This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 25 August 1958, page 9: "A portion of the street "procession" by members of the Manawatu Savage Club when they were hosts for a "raid" by the Hawera Savage Club on Saturday."
Mockery of traditional cultural practices by 'dressing-up' in grass skirts was once considered 'just a bit of fun' and was a common form of entertainment. The practice slowly died out across Aotearoa in the face of protest and education about manifestations of institutional racism, particularly after the 1979 'Haka Party Incident' at Auckland University.
The Manawatū Savage Club was established in 1908, and changed its name to OnStage Manawatū in 2020.
