Consequences of protest and the lasting historical significance:
Withdrawal of troops and the hostile reaction to their return:
Coinciding with the gradual removal of American forces from Vietnam after 1970, New Zealand troops also began to return home. Labour’s election to government in December of 1972, saw the final withdrawal of all New Zealand troops, and personnel from Vietnam. This action a move which echoed the sentiment of the New Zealand public and a direct consequence of the anti-Vietnam war protest. Returning home to a divided nation, the Returned Services Association (RSA) ignored veterans and non-combat personnel, labelled by some as ‘baby-killers’, despite only fulfilling the role asked of them. Returning servicemen and women were greeted on arrival in New Zealand by several protesters covered in fake blood. This level of animosity is evidence of the effects our involvement had on New Zealand society and its historical significance. It is only recently in 2008 that Vietnam veterans were given a welcome home ceremony and participated in a march despite having served over 30 years ago. Helen Clark as Labour party leader and prime minister at the time also gave an official apology to returning Vietnam veterans and their families. The lack of public acceptance of our returning service men and women is illustrative of the protest movement’s legacy in New Zealand.These feelings of anger toward veterans has no doubt caused feelings of resentment in the returning soldiers, this hostility is mirrored in many nations that served in Vietnam. It is also important to take into account the physical effects the Vietnam War had on New Zealand troops, it is estimated that around 600 of the 3400 personnel that served in Vietnam have died to cancers relating to the toxic use of Agent Orange spray. There are also numerous cases of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress as a result of their service in Vietnam, some of which is attributed to the antagonistic reaction of New Zealanders to the troops return. Anti-Vietnam War protest inspired people to take action on issues which had adversely affected them, an example of this is Maori protesting to settle land grievances. This continues to be a particularly contentious issue today and is a product of the counter-culture movement and the Anti-Vietnam War protest. |
Polarisation of Opinion: The Vietnam War and subsequent protest was a contentious issue, which divided New Zealand society. This polarisation of opinion is a direct short-term consequence of the issues that protest against the Vietnam War raised. As in most debated issues, there is a spectrum of opinion from radical, to liberal to conservative. In terms of Vietnam, there were a number of protest groups with varying motives for protest as well as supporters of our commitment to the US. Consequently this lead to a division of opinion in society. As noted by Michael King, in The Penguin History of New Zealand the anti-Vietnam war protest was a “campaign, which, as in the United States and Australia, would divide families, communities and the nation as a whole.” Anti-Vietnam war protest was the being of the changing the face of New Zealand society. As a society we moved from conservative "Better Britons", who called England home to a more liberal and independent nation. Anti-Vietnam War protest was a catalyst for future protest and a period of change in New Zealand's history. The 60s and 70s were a period of great change in New Zealand, it is during this time in which we gained a new sense of national identity and independence. Inspired by the anti-Vietnam war protests, the women's movement, anti-nuclear protest and maori activism was able to gain more widespread support and acceptance in New Zealand. Historian James Belich describes this period as a time of "decolonisation" or "a kind of middle class rebellion.". As a country, we developed a new sense of unique nationalism and we distanced ourselves from Britain. The anti-war movement created somewhat of a snowball effect in New Zealand as people felt they had the ability to create change, this era helped shape how our society is today. |
Change in Foreign Policy:
A long-term consequence of the anti-Vietnam War movement was a change in foreign policy and the end of bipartisan which has lasting historical significance to New Zealanders today. The Labour party’s political stance on New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War was in opposition to the National Party. This broke the consensus on Cold War foreign policy and marked the end of bipartisan in New Zealand. The Anti-Vietnam war movement highlighted the lack of public support for national security doctrine, which was based on upholding the ANZUS agreement. New Zealand’s contribution to the war resulted in the ANZUS alliance remained intact on a political level but in terms of popular support, the relationship with the US was less secure, paving the way for future change. This opposition to the ANZUS agreement was later used to justify New Zealand’s nuclear-free position and illustrated the beginnings of more independent nation, as ties with the US and Britain weakened. It is in these ways that the Anti-Vietnam War movement is historically significant; we see the effects of the protest action evident in society today. The legacy of protest and opposition is woven through our political policy. "Protests against the Vietnam War revealed in a class divide that in politics was undergoing realignment as the baby boomers grew up to join a New Left progressive middle class, keen to end the reign of conservative establishment." Philippa Mein Smith in her concise history of New Zealand evaluates the political significance of the anti-Vietnam War protests in influencing politics today. We operate now as a welfare state far from the conservative government and policy which was in place prior to the 60s and 70s.
A long-term consequence of the anti-Vietnam War movement was a change in foreign policy and the end of bipartisan which has lasting historical significance to New Zealanders today. The Labour party’s political stance on New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War was in opposition to the National Party. This broke the consensus on Cold War foreign policy and marked the end of bipartisan in New Zealand. The Anti-Vietnam war movement highlighted the lack of public support for national security doctrine, which was based on upholding the ANZUS agreement. New Zealand’s contribution to the war resulted in the ANZUS alliance remained intact on a political level but in terms of popular support, the relationship with the US was less secure, paving the way for future change. This opposition to the ANZUS agreement was later used to justify New Zealand’s nuclear-free position and illustrated the beginnings of more independent nation, as ties with the US and Britain weakened. It is in these ways that the Anti-Vietnam War movement is historically significant; we see the effects of the protest action evident in society today. The legacy of protest and opposition is woven through our political policy. "Protests against the Vietnam War revealed in a class divide that in politics was undergoing realignment as the baby boomers grew up to join a New Left progressive middle class, keen to end the reign of conservative establishment." Philippa Mein Smith in her concise history of New Zealand evaluates the political significance of the anti-Vietnam War protests in influencing politics today. We operate now as a welfare state far from the conservative government and policy which was in place prior to the 60s and 70s.
Sources:
(1)Ian McGibbon. 'Asian conflicts - Withdrawal from Vietnam', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 16-Nov-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34545/tribute-08-march-to-parliament
(2)Ben Schrader. 'Parades and protest marches - Anti-nuclear, Vietnam, Māori, 1950s to 1970s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 10-Jul-13
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21114/1975-land-march
(1)Ian McGibbon. 'Asian conflicts - Withdrawal from Vietnam', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 16-Nov-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34545/tribute-08-march-to-parliament
(2)Ben Schrader. 'Parades and protest marches - Anti-nuclear, Vietnam, Māori, 1950s to 1970s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 10-Jul-13
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21114/1975-land-march