1981: Ruahihi Disaster
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, 19 September, 1981, the Ruahihi Power Station was officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. It was part of National 3.0 era Think Big program and had coast $27 million. “Rumour is that they had overfilled the canal for the opening to look impressive for Muldons opening..” Ref. Comment to […]
Read more..September 19, 2024
1873: Softness of Brain
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, 11 September, 1873, the father of the New Zealand Police Force died. I’ve named an era after him called Branigan Honor Culture. He was St. John Branigan and that would have been pronounced ‘Sinjin’. New Zealand’s top policeman in his day. Otago’s gold diggings were attracting a great many Australians. Logically this, […]
Read more..September 11, 2024
1952: Invercargill’s Last Tram
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
For 40 years Invercargill had an electric tram system until today in history, 10 September, 1952. This image shows Mayor William Ott and others at the opening which was 26th March 1912. Prime Minister Joe Ward was there too, of course (he would show up at the opening of an envelope…) Being of German descent […]
Read more..September 10, 2024
1978: Turn to Industry
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
On 21 May, 2024, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, was addressing a private meeting of seafood industry representatives on planned law changes. Jones has made many such exciting addresses in his various capacities. In Blackball he wore a miners helmet, in Westport he wore a captain’s hat. I wouldn’t be surprised if […]
Read more..September 8, 2024
1995: Big Apple at Waitomo
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Big Apple at Waitomo is looking pretty rough in recent years. It’s a big advertisement for the Big Apple Restaurant which was opened by the Prime Minister Jim Bolger himself on 7 October, 1995.¹ Big corporate Tourism Holdings Ltd. have owned it the last 10 years and started to let the thing go. But in […]
Read more..September 4, 2024
1951: ANZUS Treaty
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
The ANZUS Treaty was signed in San Francisco on 1 September 1951 by Carl Berendsen on behalf of New Zealand’s National 1.0 Ministry. With Australia and the USA we now had a tri-tripartite defence treaty. Then, on 8 June, 1987, Labour 4.0 quit that deal. The Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 […]
Read more..August 29, 2024
1972: Masterton Cosmopolitan Club
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Masterton Cosmopolitan Club (1972-2016) is a good example of a number of working men’s club style establishments of its day. From the photos we have of the founders they were evidently middle aged Silent Generation with a few adult Boomers. The Silents present themselves as pleasant with short hair and one of them, Mr Holland, […]
Read more..August 23, 2024
1908: Tudor Towers Bathhouse
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, 13 August, 1908, The State controlled town of Rotorua opened up a monument to quackery: The Tudor Towers bathhouse. Government convinced people to line up to be ‘cured’ by electricity and water and is doubtless responsible for much false hope and early deaths unrecorded by State history. It was called “balneology” but […]
Read more..August 13, 2024
1995: Professional Rugby
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in New Zealand history, 10 August, 1995, cultural and rugby history was made. Josh Kronfeld and Jeff Wilson signed professional contracts with the NZ Rugby Union. The first All Blacks to do so. The Australian-based World Rugby Corporation had big plans but they were defeated….By the All Blacks teaming up instead with Rupert Murdoch […]
Read more..August 10, 2024
1925: Waiuku Public Library
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
Today in history, 29 July 1946, The Waiuku Town Board took over the administration of the Waiuku library. Like so many New Zealand libraries (if not all) this started out as a private, community affair. Waiuku’s was paid for and run by by a committee of subscribers. Ref. Manukaus Journey timeline, Auckland Libraries. The earlier […]
Read more..July 29, 2024
1898: The Political Woman
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
First Wave Feminism spiked for New Zealand in the 1890s then died down again as observed in this 1898 cartoon by Ashley Hunter. The text is a little hard to read in the original so I’ve typed it out below that the cartoon may live again. Hunter was correct that this Feminism 1.0 was a […]
Read more..July 28, 2024
1859: Cameron and Macdonald
By Anarchist History of New Zealand
South of Queenstown a large boulder is separated from Lake Wakatipu by State Highway 6. It’s a marker for 3 great New Zealand explorers of which 2 became pioneers. All 3 had come over from South Australia on the same ship (Peregrine Oliver,) in order to seek out new sheep country. For one, Donald Hay, […]
Read more..July 27, 2024
