Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: An open thread while I'm down with #OGB

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Dinah Dunavan,

    I do recall my father coming home gray faced after Molesworth street and I realised that his view of NZ police had taken a severe turn.

    I've been meaning for quite some time to write a review of the national police museum in Porirua. Their brochure has a wee section on the Springbok Tour which characterises the role of the force as follows:

    "The police objective was to maintain law and order and ensure that no one died as a result of public beliefs."

    So.Noble.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    So. Arselicking. Of the Establishment.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    "The police objective was to maintain law and order and ensure that no one died as a result of public beliefs."

    So.Noble.

    According to the blue squad member who lived over the back fence back then, "Those people should never have come here, but we've got a job to do."

    I remember him shortly after the tour saying that a vote would be held on whether to accept a mounted trophy made from an unfortunately beheaded springbok. I'm not sure exactly who wished to present it, but it was clearly offered as a gesture of appreciation for what the police had done for the bladdy boks. To the best of my recollection the police membership turned it down, but Meurant was more than happy to grab it with both hands in a personal capacity.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    “The police objective was to maintain law and order and ensure that no one died as a result of public beliefs.”

    There must be a statistic for that...
    Death caused by public belief.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    According to the blue squad member who lived over the back fence back then, “Those people should never have come here, but we’ve got a job to do.”

    I turned six during the Springbok tour. My father was a police sergeant in Auckland at the time and commanded a squad during the protests. My parents were both anti-tour but remained passive about it because of the difficult position that would put my father in (my mother and older sister went on one protest up Queen Street that was family friendly to express their opposition).

    My only memory of the tour is the night of the Eden Park test Dad came home and he was covered with paint and dirt. He stood in the corner of our lounge and was shaking. I remember finding it incredibly funny. Years later when (ironically) I was hit by police officers during a protest on campus, I suspect I probably had the same feelings that he was at the time.

    I did a high school history project on my family and the Springbok Tour. Dad talked about a bottle of acid that hit one of his men standing next to him. Mum talked about how their friends (most of whom were anti-tour) didn't know how to talk to them about it.

    Police officers outside of the Red Squad are the unwritten story of the Springbok Tour. They were put in an incredibly difficult position by the government and some senior police and protesters. Their responses varied greatly.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    Thank you. That would make an interesting doco subject.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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