Overview
The 1960's was a time where change was occurring not only in New Zealand but globally. The New Zealand counter-culture movement evolved out of the movements in the United States and Europe. In the 1950's remnants of the Second World War and the emerging threat of Russia allowed the idea of communism as a threat and the 'domino theory' to spread rapidly. During the 1960's questions were raised about the morality of war, this lead to the emergence of anti-war protests spreading to the streets of New Zealand. Prime Minister Holyoake's commitment of troops to the Vietnam War effort in 1965 increased protest activity and lead to the establishment of protest organisations such as the Progressive Youth Movement. The Vietnam war significantly effected New Zealand both socially and politically.
The Vietnam War was the first war that generated a significant anti-war movement in New Zealand. Although previous resistance to conscription and compulsory military training emerged during the World War One and Two, the resistors were a small minority. Anti-Vietnam War attitudes in New Zealand followed the international pattern established in the United States. As the Vietnam War efforts persisted opposition grew, those who opposed ranged from pacifists who disagreed with all wars to those who believed that New Zealand had no place in a civil war. Those opposed to the war argued that New Zealand needed to establish an independent foreign policy rather than rely on alliances with larger and more powerful countries such as America. Opposition to the war was restricted to youth culture of the late 1960's and early 1970's as these youth were well-educated, idealistic and anti-establishment, although by the 1970's protest movements expanded to include the majority of the population. |
Protest Chronology
1967: two members of the left-wing Progressive Youth Movement laid a protest wreath on Anzac Day in Christchurch and were subsequently convicted of disorderly behaviour. Further incidents followed at later Anzac Days as protestors sought to bring attention to their anti-war cause.
1967: 21 arrests during an Auckland protest against the visit of South Vietnam’s Premier, Air Vice-Marshal Ky.
1967: On 29 October, a big fight between police and protesters occurred outside the home of the American consul at Paritai Drive in Auckland
1969: Flour bombs, paint and eggs thrown in protest over a visit of a high-ranking United States politician
1969: Fire crackers thrown at an election meeting addressed by the Prime Minister with 30 arrests.
1970: January 15: US Vice president Spiro Agnew arrives in Auckland as part of a goodwill visit to US Allied SE Asian nations and is greeted by several hundred anti war protesters. The protests turned violent after police attempted to disperse protesters, both sides blamed each other for the violence which resulted in many arrests and the first violent modern protest in New Zealand history before the 1981 Springbok Tour.
1971: Protests in Dunedin reached the National Party's convention in the centre of the city, resulting in scuffles with police and two arrests and on 30 April, Nationwide anti-war demonstration attracts 30000 people to the streets demanding New Zealand's immediate withdrawal from Vietnam.
1967: 21 arrests during an Auckland protest against the visit of South Vietnam’s Premier, Air Vice-Marshal Ky.
1967: On 29 October, a big fight between police and protesters occurred outside the home of the American consul at Paritai Drive in Auckland
1969: Flour bombs, paint and eggs thrown in protest over a visit of a high-ranking United States politician
1969: Fire crackers thrown at an election meeting addressed by the Prime Minister with 30 arrests.
1970: January 15: US Vice president Spiro Agnew arrives in Auckland as part of a goodwill visit to US Allied SE Asian nations and is greeted by several hundred anti war protesters. The protests turned violent after police attempted to disperse protesters, both sides blamed each other for the violence which resulted in many arrests and the first violent modern protest in New Zealand history before the 1981 Springbok Tour.
1971: Protests in Dunedin reached the National Party's convention in the centre of the city, resulting in scuffles with police and two arrests and on 30 April, Nationwide anti-war demonstration attracts 30000 people to the streets demanding New Zealand's immediate withdrawal from Vietnam.
Bibliography
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