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George Floyd protests in New Zealand

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George Floyd protests in New Zealand
Part of George Floyd protests
Date1 June 2020 – 14 June 2020
Location
New Zealand
Caused by
Map
Cities in New Zealand in which a protest with about 100 or more participants was held (
)

Shortly after protests seeking justice for George Floyd, an African-American who was murdered during a police arrest, began in the United States, people in New Zealand protested to show support for similar protests in the United States and to demonstrate against perceived issues with police brutality and structural discrimination in New Zealand. Vigils and protests of thousands of participants took place in June 2020 throughout the nation.

Background

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The George Floyd protests sparked a strong response among New Zealanders, in particular among the indigenous Māori people who activists say face structural discrimination similarly to African Americans in the United States.[1] In the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, the police conducted a trial of equipping normally unarmed police officers with firearms. The trial ended in April 2020 without incidents of officers discharging their weapon.[1]

Reactions

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Several prominent Māori and other Polynesian figures including Taika Waititi and Parris Goebel expressed solidarity with George Floyd.[2]

Political

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Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has stated that she was "horrified" by the situation around the murder of George Floyd. Ardern had been criticised by local Black Lives Matter solidarity protesters for remaining silent about Floyd's murder for a week.[3][4] Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politicians James Shaw and Marama Davidson both stated they believed US President Donald Trump was racist when asked by press gallery journalist about his inflammatory tweets. Todd Muller declined to answer the question.[5]

In a letter, Davidson requested that police commissioner Andrew Coster end the testing of armed officers. She also called for Coster to acknowledge New Zealand's challenges with racism and discrimination.[5] On 9 June, Coster announced that the New Zealand Police would be scrapping their armed response teams after public feedback and consultation with community forum groups.[6][7][8] However, just a day after Coster announced the Armed Response Teams would be axed, he floated the idea of arming the police with sponge bullets instead. Emilie Rākete, a spokesperson for the Arms Down campaign, responded by saying that sponge bullets are extremely dangerous, and will be used against Māori more than any other group if they are rolled out.[9]

On 1 June, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters criticised protesters in Auckland for violating the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 regulations regarding limited social gatherings.[2]

Green MP Golriz Ghahraman stated, "The disease of state-based discrimination is not constrained to American borders. We must acknowledge that here in New Zealand, at every single step of the justice system, Māori face increased discrimination. This means that Māori experience more arrests, more prosecutions, longer jail sentences, more brutality, and deaths, than Pākehā in similar circumstances."[1]

Civil society

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The removal of Captain Hamilton's statue drew considerable media attention.

On 9 June 2020, the Akaroa–based bar and restaurant "Bully Hayes Restaurant" announced that it would be changing its name after several historians including Scott Hamilton criticised its namesake William "Bully" Hayes' involvement in blackbirding in the Pacific during the late 19th century.[10][11]

On 10 June, Marist College in Auckland attracted publicity after teachers reportedly tore down Black Lives Matter posters. Students organised a nine minutes silence for George Floyd and started an online petition to highlight racial issues at the college, alleging that several teachers had been racist towards students.[12][13] In response, Prime Minister Ardern voiced support for the students' activism. In addition, a formal complaint was lodged against Marist College.[14] On 16 June, 30 students staged a peaceful protest against alleged "systematic racism" at the college.[15]

On 12 June, the North Island city of Hamilton removed a statue of British Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton at the request of local Māori iwi Waikato Tainui. Captain Hamilton was controversial among Māori for his role at the Battle of Gate Pā during the New Zealand Wars. The statue's removal has been linked to calls for the removal of statues of figures associated with colonialism and racism in New Zealand and the world, which had been precipitated by the murder of George Floyd. [16][17] In response, the Māori Party's co-leader and Te Tai Hauāuru candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer called on the Government to establish an inquiry to identify and remove what she regarded as racist monuments, statues and names associated with New Zealand's colonial era.[17][18] The Marlborough District's Deputy Mayor Nadine Taylor has also called for the renaming of Picton due to his controversial governorship of Trinidad. Calls to remove statues were opposed by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and National Party Member of Parliament Simeon Brown, who described them as a "wave of wokeism" and "erasing history."[19]

On 13 June, a statue of Captain James Cook in the North Island town of Gisborne was vandalised with graffiti promoting Black and Māori rights and swastikas.[20] On 15 June, the leasehold upstairs venue to Dunedin's Captain Cook Hotel announced that it would be changing its name in response to both Captain James Cook's controversial legacy among Māori and the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by George Floyd's murder.[21][22] The building and downstairs restaurant will keep its name.[23]

In addition, statues of Queen Victoria and Scottish poet Robert Burns were targeted by protesters in Dunedin in mid-June due to the former's association with British colonialism and the latter's alleged complicity in slavery.[24] On 18 June, it was reported that the Rangitikei District Council had covered up a statue of Captain Cook in Marton pending a decision about its future in response to the public debate around colonial era statues, monuments, and place names.[25]

Calls to remove monuments to controversial colonial figures also triggered a call by LifeNet charity director Brendan Malone to remove a monument to Māori chief and Ngāti Toa military leader Te Rauparaha in Ōtaki since had enslaved, tortured, and eaten members of rival Māori tribes. In response, Victoria University of Wellington historian Dr Arini Loader and former Labour Party candidate Shane Te Pou disputed Malone's attempts to draw a moral equivalence with colonial figures such as Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton, arguing that Te Rauparaha had supported a local church and that other iwi including Rauparaha's former victims recognised his historical importance.[26]

Organisations

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Arms Down NZ stated that they saw a parallel in the plight of African Americans and the indigenous communities in New Zealand in regards to police brutality and racism.[1]

Demonstrations

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June 14 Black Lives Matter protest in Auckland
One of the placards in Kirikiriroa highlighted the proportions of black populations relative to prison populations

1 June

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[28][29] The Auckland event was organised by several African New Zealanders including Mahlete Tekeste, African-American expatriate Kainee Simone, sportsperson Israel Adesanya, and musician Mazbou Q. Speakers linked the issues faced by African Americans to those faced by Māori and Pasifika peoples in New Zealand.[30] The American flag in front of the consulate general appeared to have been removed prior to the protest.[31] Protesters had signs including "Be kind", "Silence is Betrayal", and "Do Better, Be Better". Participants in this protest were in violation of social distancing protocols in place for the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand which limits gatherings to fewer than 100 people.[2] Protesters performed a haka.[1] A primary school teacher named Ethan Aloiai who wore a "Make America Great Again" hat had his hat seized and burned by protesters. Despite public interest, the Teaching Council declined to pursue disciplinary action against Aloiai.[32][33]

13 June

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  • Hamilton (Kirikiriroa): As noted above, this protest was preceded by removal of the controversial Hamilton statue. At least 969 attended this event,[39] though TV One News said 959.[40] Drone footage suggests the numbers may have been rather higher.[41] The hikoi started in Memorial Park and ended in Garden Place.[39]

14 June

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Perrigo, Billy (1 June 2020). "Crowds Protest in New Zealand Against George Floyd's Death". Time. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Ainge Roy, Eleanor (1 June 2020). "Thousands in New Zealand protest against George Floyd killing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. ^ Besanvelle, James (2 June 2020). "Jacinda Ardern responds after being criticised for week-long 'silence' over George Floyd's death". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Ardern says George Floyd situation in US 'horrifying'". Radio New Zealand. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b Ainge Roy, Eleanor (5 June 2020). "New Zealand minister says yes – Trump is racist amid George Floyd protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. ^ Sherwood, Sam; Devlin, Collete (9 June 2020). "Police Commissioner rules out bringing back Armed Response Teams". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Police ending Armed Response Teams after trial - Commissioner". Radio New Zealand. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Police Armed Response Teams to end". New Zealand Herald. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Police Commissioner criticised for floating idea of sponge bullets". Radio New Zealand. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. ^ Walton, Steve (9 June 2015). "Akaroa restaurant named after 'notorious' slave trader seeks new name". Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. ^ Burrows, Matt; Carran, Holly (9 June 2020). "Akaroa restaurant Bully Hayes, named after 19th Century rapist slaver, to change its name". Newshub. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Student says Marist College teachers are racist towards her peers". New Zealand Herald. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  13. ^ Truebridge, Nick (10 June 2020). "Marist College students unite over school's Black Lives Matter response". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. ^ Small, Zane (10 June 2020). "Jacinda Ardern praises 'engaged students' amid complaints of schools removing Black Lives Matter posters". Newshub. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. ^ Clent, Danielle (16 June 2020). "Marist College students hold Black Lives Matter protest after posters torn down". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Controversial statue of Captain John Hamilton to be removed - Hamilton City Council". Radio New Zealand. 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020.
  17. ^ a b Neilson, Michael (12 June 2020). "George Floyd protests: Hamilton City Council remove controversial Captain statue". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. ^ MacManus, Joel (11 June 2020). "Calls for colonial statues to go start to pick up in New Zealand". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020.
  19. ^ Bond, Jordan (12 June 2020). "Hamilton statue's removal raises debate over artefacts of British colonialism". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Captain James Cook statue defaced in Gisborne". New Zealand Herald. 13 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  21. ^ Walton, Steve; McNeilly, Hamish (15 June 2020). "Dunedin's 'Captain Cook' set to sail as venue owner opts for name change". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  22. ^ Hudson, Daisy (15 June 2020). "Captain Cook Hotel to be renamed". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  23. ^ Elder, Vaughan (17 June 2020). "No plans to change Cook building name". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  24. ^ Lewis, John (15 June 2020). "'Rapist': Dunedin protesters target two statues of historic figures". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Captain Cook statue covered up in Rangitīkei town of Marton". 1News. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  26. ^ Burrows, Matt (17 June 2020). "Te Rauparaha monument 'should remain in place' despite calls to tear it down, Māori historian says". Newshub. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  27. ^ McCurry, Justin; Taylor, Josh; Ainge Roy, Eleanor; Safi, Michael (1 June 2020). "George Floyd: protests take place in cities around the world". The Guardian.
  28. ^ a b "New Zealand protests live: Protester ties himself to US Embassy in Wellington". The New Zealand Herald. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  29. ^ a b "US anti-racism protests stretch to distant New Zealand". The Sun Daily. Agence France-Press. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  30. ^ Junn, Jihee (2 June 2020). "In pictures: The Black Lives Matter solidarity march, Auckland". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  31. ^ a b Block, George; Kenny, Lee; Flahive, Brad; Piper, Denise (1 June 2020). "Black Lives Matter marches: Thousands of Kiwis peacefully protest against racism". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  32. ^ "George Floyd death: MAGA hat burns at Auckland protest". New Zealand Herald. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  33. ^ Appleby, Luke (12 June 2020). "Teaching Council won't update progress of complaints made about MAGA hat teacher". 1News. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  34. ^ Miller, Grant (1 June 2020). "Dunedin crowd joins global protest". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  35. ^ Mckew, Matthew (8 June 2020). "Black Lives Matter protest in Queenstown". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  36. ^ a b Moore, Rachel (1 June 2020). "Protests spark in Palmerston North in tribute to George Floyd and Black Lives Matter". Stuff. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020.
  37. ^ "Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Tauranga". SunLive. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  38. ^ a b Tso, Matthew; Wiltshire, Laura (1 June 2020). "'If you stay silent, you're being violent' - Wellington protest at killing of African American George Floyd". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  39. ^ a b "BLM Unity March - Hamilton". Facebook. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  40. ^ "Hundreds gather in Hamilton for Black Lives Matter unity march". 1News. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  41. ^ Mora, Abe (15 June 2020). "Change only happens when we the people come together and decide what is right". Facebook. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  42. ^ a b Owen, Catrin; Chumko, Andre (14 June 2020). "Black Lives Matter: Thousands at Auckland and Wellington marches". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020.
  43. ^ a b c "Thousands of NZers march for Black Lives Matter". Radio New Zealand. 14 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  44. ^ Hudson, Daisy (15 June 2020). "Protesters shine light on 'real big racism problem'". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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