Supporting overseas liberation movements

Before the 1970s, New Zealand already had a long history of supporting protests and progressive political actions in other countries. Trade unions were particularly strong in taking action in solidarity with unions elsewhere.

University students supported many international liberation movements in the 1970s through protest, public meetings and awareness-raising – the Zimbabwe Liberation Movement, Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, Chile’s Allende Government and liberation movements in colonised Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and Angola. When the Shah of Iran visited New Zealand in 1974, he faced noisy protests against his repressive regime.

There was solidarity with the plight of international students in New Zealand, particularly in Wellington. Malaysian students faced the risk of prosecution on their return to Malaysia if they had participated in protests in New Zealand.

We also protested against our own Government for not supporting overseas liberation movements, trading with repressive governments or refusing to admit refugees.