1990: David’s Got A Gun
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What drove David Grey to lash out against men, women, and children in his little seaside community? He murdered 13 people on 13 November, 1990. Then was killed himself in a blaze of ignominy as the combined force of over 150 police finally put Grey down on 14 November, 1990. It was a Wednesday, the […]
Read more..November 6, 2023
1978: Turn to Industry
By AHNZ
On 21 May, 2024, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, was addressing a private meeting of seafood industry representatives on planned law changes. Jones has made many such exciting addresses in his various capacities. In Blackball he wore a miners helmet, in Westport he wore a captain’s hat. I wouldn’t be surprised if […]
Read more..September 8, 2024
1979: Under the Mountain
By AHNZ
The writer Maurice Gee (1931-2025, Artist: Phoenix Generation) wrote many acclaimed novels. Especially between 1972 to 1990 there were short stories, novels, and children’s books. Best known is Under the Mountain (1979) which I read as an allegory for The State vs. humanity. It became a TV show and a film so that along with […]
Read more..June 16, 2025
1905: Te Hapa o Niu Tireni
By AHNZ
Today in New Zealand history, 15 July, 1905, the opening of Te Hapa o Niu Tireni in Temuka, South Canterbury: “Some three years ago the old hall at the Temuka Maori pah, the scene of many a memorable native meeting, was destroyed by fire. Its successor has at last reared its head from the ashes, […]
Read more..June 15, 2025
1904: Brunnerton Slip
By AHNZ
Terrible Calamity at about 2:30am, 25 May, 1904 at Brunnerton: Jones’s Terminus indeed! Sadly literal. “The wind was howling and the rain coming down in torrents and lights could not be kept burning.” “The place is situated just a little above the Brunner railway station and on the opposite side to the Presbyterian Church. “ […]
Read more..June 11, 2025
Identifying as Maori
By AHNZ
Worth it. Whatever it costs you’ll make it back on special education grants, rates exemptions, special back-door entry into professional degrees. For the right people a seat on the local council without the need for messy campaigns or pesky elections. Brings DEI value to any workplace. You get special food-gathering rights, consultation fees, and ownership […]
Read more..June 5, 2025
1986: Bilingual Egmont
By AHNZ
David Lange’s Labour 6.0 Ministry had Mr Koro Wetere as its Minister for Maori Affairs as well as Minister of Lands. Koro’s seat was Western Maori too so he had some home bias to contend with when it came to being in “the hot seat” over the re-naming of Mt Egmont to Mount Taranaki. The […]
Read more..May 29, 2025
1941: Auckland Mayor John Allum
By AHNZ
Today in New Zealand history, 28 May, 1941, John Allum became the mayor of Auckland. This portrait (left) has been mothballed for decades in the city archives. They didn’t even know who it was and that it was someone else! Only turned up because the archives were being shifted to the North Shore to (I […]
Read more..May 28, 2025
1922: Girdleston Peak War Memorial
By AHNZ
World War 1 memorial destroyed by a Maori activist and a Feminist writer. New Zealanders owe a great debt to the contributions of its early surveyors as well as the ANZAC soldiers. Sergeant Hubert Girdlestone (1879-1918) was both of these in one. Hugh, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, had the misfortune to be killed […]
Read more..May 27, 2025
1968: Inangahua Earthquake
By AHNZ
Most of New Zealand felt the earthquake (7.1) that struck the settlement of Inangahua today in history, Friday May 24, 1968, at 5.24am. Three people were killed and 14 counted as injured. Great video here from Nelson Provincial Museum showing the damage and hurt. 70% Of the dwellings in the town were made uninhabitable. Aftershocks […]
Read more..May 24, 2025
1914: St Kilda Community Library
By AHNZ
In St Kilda, Dunedin, a perfectly good Anarchist library is about to be replaced by a government one. The 1914 St Kilda Community Library didn’t tax anyone. It was run by voluntary effort for 110 years. “The library has been run and kept open by volunteers since its inception.” “The library originally opened in April […]
Read more..May 24, 2025
