Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. On 16 June 1980, 15 people with signage worded "Remember Soweto" held a silent vigil in Te Marae o Hine/The Square to protest violent events in South Africa. Whilst the anti-apartheid protests of the early 1980s throughout the country were frequently marred with conflict and violence, protests in Palmerston North were often silent and peaceful.
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 15 August 1981, with the caption: "Protesters arrested in city march." This march began in Amesbury Street and continued down Broadway, to the Fitzherbert Motor Inn.
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, depicting the march in protest of the rugby match played between the South African Springboks and the Manawatū provincial team. The march was a coalition of organised responses from representatives and marshals of COST (Citizens Opposed to the Springbok Tour), MAST (Manawatū Against the Springbok Tour) and HART (Halt All Racist Tours) and attracted participants from within the city but also from Wellington and Auckland.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: “Protesters march down Church Street in a demonstration of solidarity against the tour.”
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: "Police march alongside the Protesters.”
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 22 July 1981, with the caption: "Half mast flag marks 'shame' day: Palmerston North's anti-tour protestors marked New Zealand's 'National Day of Shame' with a peaceful march through the central City." The 'Day of Shame' march was the largest of several protest events before and after the Springbok Rubgy team played Manawatū in Palmerston North in 1 August 1981. The March moved from St Patrick's cathedral, down Broadway Avenue, circled the Square, ending in the 'Lion's Den' quadrant. 500 demonstrators began the march but the numbers may have swelled to 1000 by its end. The protesters were occasionally heckled by pro-tour members of the public. March chants included "Don't scrum with racist scum", and "We don't want your racist tour".
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, depicting the march in protest of the rugby match played between the South African Springboks and the Manawatū provincial team. The march was a coalition of organised responses from representatives and marshals of COST (Citizens Opposed to the Springbok Tour), MAST (Manawatū Against the Springbok Tour) and HART (Halt All Racist Tours) and attracted participants from within the city but also from Wellington and Auckland. HART founder Trevor Richards appears second from right.
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981. Anti-Apartheid and anti-Springbok tour protestors picketed the touring Springbok rugby team’s hotel – The Fitzherbert Motor Inn – but the Standard reported the team had left for the ground before protesters arrival.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: "Marchers in the vanguard of today’s protest were well protected with hard helmets and heavy clothing.” COST (Citizen's Opposed to the Springbok Tour) marshal Alick Shaw, holds the megaphone.
Anti-apartheid demonstrators outside the NZI (NZ Insurance) building in Palmerston North.
This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981. The Standard reported that as many as 1000 police were involved in planning for protests on game day, including the specially formed ‘Red and ‘Blue’’ riot squads.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 03 August 1981, with the caption: "On the verge of the unknown…the thin blue line faces the protesters.” The Standard reported that protesters against the Springbok Rugby Tour game held against Manawatū on 1 August, stood ‘eyeball to eyeball’ with Police in riot gear for 24 minutes during an unplanned standoff on the intersection of David and Cuba Streets.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 22 July 1981, with the caption: "Half mast flag marks 'shame' day: Palmerston North's anti-tour protestors marked New Zealand's 'National Day of Shame' with a peaceful march through the central City." The 'Day of Shame' march was the largest of several protest events before and after the Springbok Rubgy team played Manawatū in Palmerston North in 1 August 1981. The March moved from St Patrick's cathedral, down Broadway Avenue, circled the Square, ending in the 'Lion's Den' quadrant. 500 demonstrators began the march but the numbers may have swelled to 1000 by its end. The protesters were occasionally heckled by pro-tour members of the public. March chants included "Don't scrum with racist scum", and "We don't want your racist tour".
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: "A section of the large crowd which gathered outside the Boks’ hotel the DB Fitzherbert this morning.” Anti-Apartheid and anti-Springbok tour protestors picketed the touring Springbok rugby team’s hotel – The Fitzherbert Motor Inn – but the Standard reported the team had left for the ground before their arrival.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 1 August 1981, with the caption: "Ground in state of siege." Barbed wire was erected around the Showgrounds and barricades blocked parts of Cuba Street in anticipation of anti-Apartheid and anti-Springbok Tour protests during the rugby match played between the Springboks and Manawatū on 1 August 1981
Approximately 5,000 people showed their opposition to the pending Springbok rugby tour by marching down Broadway then into The Square. They assembled at the Lions Den where they were addressed by a variety of speakers. The march was headed by Labour MP for Palmerston North Mr. Joe Walding (centre). Others under the banner include Rev. Dr David Penman of All Saints Church, march organiser Bishop Peter Cullinane, Rev. Dr Alan Webster and the President of the Manawatu Trades Council Mr. Noren Byrnes. The same evening a group of 8,000 pro-tour supporters also gathered in The Square.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: "Rugby fans watch the protesters.” The Standard reported “About 50 people from inside the Carlton Hotel came out on the street and heckled the marchers, but the exchanges were mostly good humoured.”
Graffiti protesting the South African rugby team (The Springboks) tour of New Zealand in 1981.
Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 3rd March 2020. Part 1 of 3. 1969-1990 work at NZBC. To Manawatu in 1977, radio station 2ZA. Changes to local broadcasting. Getting news stories. Comparison with TV. Journalism training in 1970s. Public Relations (PR). Radio and TV originally to broadcast government information. Communication education. A day’s work in radio and in TV. Difficulties of regional TV news reporting. Anecdotes: Camera crews. Filming in a cave. Turkeys in gumboots. Elephant seal story. Springbok Tour.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 01 August 1981, with the caption: "Police with Long batons and riot helmets block Cuba Street near the Showgrounds.” This image likely depicts the police line formed in anticipation of the arrival of an unplanned march at 11am. The Standard reported that 400 Wellington based protestors marched up Linton Street into Church Street and into the Square, before stopping at the Commercial Hotel. They then continued to the Showgrounds to inspect the barbed wire, where few police were present. The marchers did not approach the police line, instead moving down Pitt Street into Main street to the Railway land, assembling for the planned march at 1pm.
