Key Individuals:Prime minister, Keith Holyoake: "Our offer of military assistance was understandable in these terms but our objective remains a political one-to bring a negotiated settlement...We must back up the Americans and the Vietnamese. But at the same time we must do everything we can to encourage meaningful negotiations." Holyoake was prime minister from 1960-1972 with the National party; his time in office is defined largely by the Vietnam War and his response to send troops. Holyoake undoubtedly was in a difficult and delicate situation is which he made the crucial decision to uphold the ANZUS alliance and send troops to Vietnam. Although widely criticised for his decision it didn't effect his re-election to power. In every sense he did the least possible to maintain a positive relationship with the United States and attempted to keep the New Zealand public content. Holyoake was influential in the anti-Vietnam war protest as his decisions directly influenced the course of action for protestors. |
Tim Shadbolt:
"We were small, we were social outcasts, but we kept going. Gradually things began to change. Nobody likes supporting a war their side losing." Tim Shadbolt was a well-known student activist in the late 60s and early 70s, who has gone on to become the Mayor of Waitemata and Mayor of Invercargill. As the leader of the Auckland University Society for the Active Prevention of Cruelty to Politically Apathetic Humans (AUSAPOCPAH), a protest group which never took itself too seriously. They held weekly protest sit-ins in Auckland CBD, lead by Shadbolt, which at its peak attracted several thousand participants. The focus of their action was persistent guerrilla style protest, which was aimed at raising awareness and creating change. Arrested 33 times, most famously for using the word bullshit at a rally, this was later included in the title of his autobiography “Bullshit and Jellybeans”. Shadbolt was important as a leader for the movement, as a strong speaker and colourful individual he helped gained support for the cause. |
Key Groups:
The Progressive Youth Movement:
The Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) established in 1964 was an important anti-war group that emerged as one of the most active and militant groups of the counter-culture movement, this group radicalised youth protest in New Zealand. Notorious for its shock tactics, the PYM established autonomous branches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The PYM was seen as the youth branch of the communist party of New Zealand and shunned what they believed to be a fraudulent parliament, upsetting both the National and Labour parties. Up to the definitive withdrawal of New Zealand troops from Vietnam the PYM organised upward of 150 demonstrations and distributed and displayed various media, all of which were provocative and colourful.
The Auckland branch of the PYM was by far the largest of the three groups, and the longest running (1964-77). The most significant of the Auckland PYM protests was on the on 16th of October in 1969, when 800 members of the Auckland PYM marched on the University wrapped in sheets covered in red paint, this gained significant media attention. The role of the PYM was to shock, they're tactics were later embraced by other protest groups through out the 70s. The Anti-Vietnam War protest was the first of the influential protests through out the counter-culture movement of the 60s/70s .which have shaped New Zealand today.
The Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) established in 1964 was an important anti-war group that emerged as one of the most active and militant groups of the counter-culture movement, this group radicalised youth protest in New Zealand. Notorious for its shock tactics, the PYM established autonomous branches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The PYM was seen as the youth branch of the communist party of New Zealand and shunned what they believed to be a fraudulent parliament, upsetting both the National and Labour parties. Up to the definitive withdrawal of New Zealand troops from Vietnam the PYM organised upward of 150 demonstrations and distributed and displayed various media, all of which were provocative and colourful.
The Auckland branch of the PYM was by far the largest of the three groups, and the longest running (1964-77). The most significant of the Auckland PYM protests was on the on 16th of October in 1969, when 800 members of the Auckland PYM marched on the University wrapped in sheets covered in red paint, this gained significant media attention. The role of the PYM was to shock, they're tactics were later embraced by other protest groups through out the 70s. The Anti-Vietnam War protest was the first of the influential protests through out the counter-culture movement of the 60s/70s .which have shaped New Zealand today.
The Committees on Vietnam:
The Committees on Vietnam (COV) was another influential anti-Vietnam war protest group. They had established unified bases throughout the country. It comprised of a range of people, students, trade unionists and academics. Their main objective to mobilise public opinion and gain mainstream support against the New Zealand government sending troops to Vietnam. Their tactics were far less abrasive than the PYM and consequently were more widely supported. As an organisation they were influential because they appealed to a range of people and as a result their opinions were seen as more socially acceptable and less radical than the PYM or AUSAPOCPAH.
The Committees on Vietnam (COV) was another influential anti-Vietnam war protest group. They had established unified bases throughout the country. It comprised of a range of people, students, trade unionists and academics. Their main objective to mobilise public opinion and gain mainstream support against the New Zealand government sending troops to Vietnam. Their tactics were far less abrasive than the PYM and consequently were more widely supported. As an organisation they were influential because they appealed to a range of people and as a result their opinions were seen as more socially acceptable and less radical than the PYM or AUSAPOCPAH.
(1) 'Cold War - South-East Asia, 1955 to 1975', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 16-Nov-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/32704/vietnam-hostile-return-home
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/32704/vietnam-hostile-return-home