1984: Queen Street Riot

December 6, 2019

By AHNZ

Today in New Zealand history, December 7th, 1984, was a Friday. A Friday that lives in infamy not just because of the 1941 Pearl Harbour Theatre (that The State put on for the benefit of the USA people so it could join WW2) but because of the Queen Street Riots.

A free rock concert in Aotea Square, Queen Street, Auckland, suffered a power cut. The following unrest in the crowd turned into a riot. Shops were looted, cars set on fire. The young people attending clashed with Police and fought them. No doubt there were injuries on both sides but it is recorded¹ that 23 officers were hurt.

The headline act, D.D. Smash, featured Dave Dobbyn who was himself charged with inciting the violence that followed. He got off but said later that the shame he felt led him toward making amends by creating what became an iconic soundtrack for the great Footrot Flats film (1986.)

“I was there and Dave rocked the boat! Was a freaky time to go threw as a young teen!”- AHNZ commenter

In the Moral Culture scheme of things the Anarchist History of New Zealand reckons the country to be right in the middle of KZ7 Honour Culture (1980-1987.) When HC is in the ascendency problems are perceived of and solved personally and concretely. HC folk are far more likely to settle things with face-to-face outbursts of violence rather than have resource to institutions and rules. Hence, we had the Springbok Tour Riots early in this period. Late in the period we learned to fear the Honour Culture man as given catharsis by films such as The Terminator (1984.)

I’ve got a bit of a theory about seasonal trends too because civil unrest often hits the fan in December. Reckon it might be part of a larger plan that incentivises the Muggles to protest against Government right before Christmas and New Years so they get tidily shut down before they can really get started.

eg The Occupy Movement (2011) kicked up as early as October, was vibrant in December but killed by Christmas. Only a few lost cause hard core remained to be mopped up over January

eg Independent State of Aramoana (1980) initiated in December by disgruntled Otago protesters

eg Queen Street Riot (1984) where Auckland’s Aotea Centre was swarmed by destructive students in the early stages of a concert. Dobbyn was charged with inciting violence!

eg Yellow Jacket protests in France break out in November 2018

I’m expecting to see further protests and outbursts before Christmas this year. However, we shoudn’t anticipate looting or riots or violence until Honour Culture again hits its stride in 2021/22.

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1 Essential Dates; Dench (2005)

Image ref. Audioculture.co.nz

Ref. NZ History.gov

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