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Kick it away’: smoke bombs and debris fall between the police cordon and anti-Tour protestors by the church at the corner of Marlborough St and Walters Rd
John MercerSeptember 12, 1981
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland, New Zealand
Black and white photograph of a line of riot police officers approaching a crowd of anti-Springbok tour protesters amidst the aftermath of a smoke bomb. The police officers are wearing protective helmets and holding batons. Behind them is the Church of Christ, located at 9 Walters Road, Kingsland.
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Details
- Title: Kick it away’: smoke bombs and debris fall between the police cordon and anti-Tour protestors by the church at the corner of Marlborough St and Walters Rd
- Creator: John Mercer
- Creator Lifespan: b. 1949
- Creator Nationality: New Zealander
- Creator Birth Place: New Plymouth, New Zealand
- Date Created: September 12, 1981
- Location: Mount Eden (Auckland, N.Z.)
- Physical Dimensions: 35 mm frame
- Subject Keywords: New Zealand Police, Protest movements., Mount Eden (Auckland, N.Z.), Protest movements--New Zealand, Anti-apartheid movements--New Zealand
- Type: Negative
- Rights: All rights reserved
- External Link: Auckland Museum: Collections Online
- Support: Polyester
- Wikipedia: Auckland Museum on Wikipedia
- Process: Gelatin silver
- Notes: Notes provided by John Mercer June-July 2021: As the standoff continues, one police officer attempts to kick a smoke bomb towards the protest line. There appear to be more smoke bombs so confusion and heightened tension. The protest marshal at centre right appears to trying to locate/stop the throwing. Obviously there were a goodly number of protesters who were not part of the Patu squad who were also surprised by the abrupt change of tactic. So it seemed like everybody chased the Patu phalanx down Marlborough St towards the Walters Rd intersection with the Church of Christ on the corner. As I had remained near the Red Squad cordon at the Onslow Rd/Kowhai St intersection in the expectation that it was the most likely spot for some sort of confrontation I was one of the last chasing Patu squad down Marlborough St. So I do not see the arrival of Patu squad at the police cordon. The initial confrontation lasts 5 or 10 minutes – a scene of confusion and noise, scuffling and general confusion as the balance of non-Patu squad protesters arrive and spread around and behind Patu squad. What was evident is that, the Patu squad surprise tactic has not resulted in any decisive advantage – that is breaching the police cordon and racing towards Eden Park – but has become a stalemate and stand-off. During its race down Marlborough St Patu squad has lost some structure and is a bit less coherent. This disorganisation means that it is long minutes before there is a decision to get all the shields back into the front of the protest ranks – almost too late. I continue to photograph activities and events around my position, moving across the intersection behind the body of protesters until I reached the southern eastern corner. Looking towards the church and Walters Rd I can observe the Police cordon facing off the Patu squad amid a mass of protesters. It is likely that by this time the Red Squad cordon positioned at the bin barricade on Onslow Rd have run down Kowhai St to reinforce the cordon at Walters Rd and prevent any break through. All through this time the light plane circles Eden Park chased by a police plane and helicopter, the Biko blimp drifts across the sky above us. As the standoff continues, one police officer attempts to kick a smoke bomb towards the protest line. Some of the protesters are looking around to see where the flying objects are coming from, obviously these are unexpected and unwanted. Strings of fire crackers and smoke bombs are being hurled towards the police lines. I see a skyrocket go off between 2 ranks of police, there are other more solid objects thrown and they land/explode indiscriminately amongst the police cordon and the front ranks of the anti Tour protestors. More smoke bombs heighten confusion and tension. The protest marshal at centre right appears to trying to locate/stop the throwing. The source seems to be somewhere at the rear of the protest group.
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