Tag Archives: Sports

The Amazon’s final home run

16 August 2012 – 10.47am

 The Amazon Softball Club, the first and last lesbian softball club in New Zealand, has kindly donated a selection of team uniforms and ephemera to Te Papa. The Amazon’s formed at the height of gay liberation in 1977. The Wellington based club provided a space for self-identified lesbians to socialise, find solidarity and develop confidence in their sporting abilities.

 The fight for equality and gay liberation began in the 1960s and New Zealand took major steps forward with the introduction of The Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986 and the Human Rights Bill in 1993. The Homosexual Law Reform Act decriminalised sexual relations between men aged 16 and over. Sexual relations between women were not illegal, but lesbian women also suffered discrimination and heavily supported the reform act. The Human Rights Bill introduced in 1993 made discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal, giving freedom of expression to members of the LBGT community.

 The latest Marriage Equality Bill put forward to parliament by Labour MP Louisa Wall has been a hot topic of public debate in the recent weeks. This bill intends to give same-sex couples the right to a legal marriage and equal rights to adoption which are not currently allowed under the Civil Union Act. If this bill is successful it will be another step forward in the fight for equality and gay liberation.

Amazon Softball Club 2012/2011.Te Papa

Amazon Softball Club 2012/2011.Te Papa

 The Amazon Softball Club is part of New Zealand’s lesbian history and over the last 30 years the club has carved out a legacy on the sport’s field as an affiliated member of the Wellington Softball Association. Competitive and social teams played against other women’s softball teams from around New Zealand. The name Amazons represents mythological female warriors and their eye-catching purple uniforms symbolised the international colour of gay pride.

Amazon Softball Club team uniform c.1990.Te Papa

Amazon Softball Club team uniform c.1990.Te Papa

One team was promoted to Major Reserve during the 1988/1989 season and became a source of pride for the lesbian community in Wellington. Among the items donated are the team’s first uniforms, knickerbockers, stirrups and also invitations and certificates from the 10 year anniversary held in Wellington in 1987. This set of items adds to Te Papa’s growing collection which represents New Zealand’s gay and lesbian social history. Unfortunately the club disbanded in 2011 due to lack of members. Amazons were a central part of the lesbian community in Wellington, which they created for themselves.

Here is a promotional video for the Amazon Softball Club, shot in 2010 by Francesca Jago that illustrates the comradeship and encouraging atmosphere team members were a part of.

Read more about the reform bill in Kirstie Ross’s blog post.

Were you a member or supporter of the Amazons?  What are your memories? Leave a reply below as we would love to hear about your experiences!

By Sarahp | Posted in Collections Online, Fashion, History | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

July 1981 – This month last century

28 July 2011 – 3.38pm
30 years ago the South African rugby team is welcomed to New Zealand at the Poho-o-Rawiri marae, Gisborne, at the start of its tour of the country (17 July 1981).
 

Rugby Union has long had a prominent, if not undisputed place in New Zealand culture. 

Kia Ora Rugby Team, 1921, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Te Papa

Kia Ora Rugby Team, 1921, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Te Papa

However, the game caused bitter disputes and often violent clashes around New Zealand when the South African rugby team toured the country from July to September in 1981.
 
The Springboks’ four previous tours of New Zealand, in 1921, 1937, 1956 and 1965, were all eagerly anticipated and fixed in popular culture and memory. For example, in 1956, P. W. Gregory composed the ‘All Blacks’ Football Song’ which the Woolston Brass Band played before the third test in Christchurch, and recorded for HMV NZ Ltd /Columbia Records (below).
Record, ’All Blacks’ Football Song’, 1956, His Master's Voice (N.Z.) Ltd. Columbia Records, Gregory, P.W. Woolston Brass Band, New Zealand. Purchased, 2010. Te Papa

Record, ’All Blacks’ Football Song’, 1956, His Master's Voice (N.Z.) Ltd. Columbia Records, Gregory, P.W. Woolston Brass Band, New Zealand. Purchased, 2010. Te Papa

The tour in 1956 was especially momentous because the All Blacks finally won a test series against their South African rivals on home turf. Below is the ball that helped New Zealand to win the series at Eden Park in Auckland.
Rugby ball, 1956, Watts Sports Depot Limited (1935–1959), New Zealand. Purchased 2007. Te Papa

Rugby ball, 1956, Watts Sports Depot Limited (1935–1959), New Zealand. Purchased 2007. Te Papa

New Zealanders had warmly welcomed the Springboks in 1956. South Africa’s national policy of apartheid, introduced in 1948, was not an obstacle to the tour, even though this meant the team was selected according to race and ‘Blacks’ were excluded. 

However, over the 1960s and 1970s, contact with racially segregated South Africa grew to be an issue of national and international concern. In New Zealand, concern was raised because apartheid meant that Maori were excluded from the All Blacks team that went to South Africa in 1960. This led to a petition and the challenge: ‘No Maoris – No Tour’. In 1970 a compromise was reached: Maori were permitted to tour South Africa in the All Blacks as ‘honorary whites’.

The issue of sporting contacts with South Africa came to a very public head after the All Blacks played in South Africa in 1976. Amongst those condemning this action were a large number of African nations who boycotted the Montreal Olympics because of New Zealand’s attendance.

Peace slogans on power plant tanks, Bay of Plenty, 1960 s, Lee-Johnson, Eric (1908–1993), Bay of Plenty. Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. © Te Papa. Te Papa

Peace slogans on power plant tanks, Bay of Plenty, 1960 s, Lee-Johnson, Eric (1908–1993), Bay of Plenty. Purchased 1997 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. © Te Papa. Te Papa

Over the 1960s and 70s, some sections of society began protesting in public about social issues, especially those related to civil and human rights, social inequality and injustice. New Zealand was caught up in this international movement, which also influenced the actions of those opposed to the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.

Badge, ’Women against the Tour’, 1981, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Gift of Annette Anderson, 2009. Te Papa

Badge, ’Women against the Tour’, 1981, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Gift of Annette Anderson, 2009. Te Papa

At the heart of the debate was whether sports and politics were or could be independent. Supporters of the tour were adamant that they were and had to be. Opponents insisted that by receiving the white-only Springboks, New Zealand was supporting South Africa’s racist regime and condoning its abuse of civil and human rights.

Badge, ’STOP The ’81 Tour’, 1981, HART (Halt All Racist Tours) (1969–1992), New Zealand. Gift of Annette Anderson, 2009. Te Papa

Badge, ’STOP The ’81 Tour’, 1981, HART (Halt All Racist Tours) (1969–1992), New Zealand. Gift of Annette Anderson, 2009. Te Papa

During the Springboks’ 56-day tour, over 150,000 people participated in more than 200 demonstrations; 1500 were charged with protest-related offences. Special police squads, which attracted controversy, were established to protect the teams and to maintain law and order.

Two members of St John’s College run onto Rugby Park, Hamilton, while two supporters of Springbok Rugby Tour try to stop them, 1981, 1981, Black, Peter (1948– ), Waikato. Purchased 1983 with New Zealand Lottery Board funds. Te Papa

Two members of St John’s College run onto Rugby Park, Hamilton, while two supporters of Springbok Rugby Tour try to stop them, 1981, 1981, Black, Peter (1948– ), Waikato. Purchased 1983 with New Zealand Lottery Board funds. Te Papa

Games in Hamilton and Timaru were cancelled. In Hamilton, this was because anti-tour protestors occupied the field, shown in the photograph above. (The cross they are carrying is currently on display at Te Papa in the exhibition, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa.

Find out more about this divisive event on nzhistory.net.nz

See images and objects in Te Papa’s collections related to rugby (including the 1981 Springbok tour)

Read about social protests in New Zealand, including those that occurred in 1981, featured in Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

February 1950: This month last century

23 February 2011 – 5.48pm

Empire Games are held in Auckland, 4-11 February 1950

1950 Empire Games commemorative cup, 1950, Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd (1948–1991), Shufflebotham, Ernest (1908–1984), Auckland. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

1950 Empire Games commemorative cup, 1950, Crown Lynn Potteries Ltd (1948–1991), Shufflebotham, Ernest (1908–1984), Auckland. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa

The cup above was produced by Crown Lynn as a souvenir of the Auckland games, which 590 athletes from 12 nations attended.  

New Zealand came third in the medal tally with 54 medals: 10 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze. Golds were won in boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, weightlifting, and athletics.

Yvette Williams won a gold medal in the long jump. Two years later at Helsinki in Finland, she became the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

The Empire Games were first held in Canada in 1930. Since then they have been held every four years, although there was a 12-year gap gap after 1938 due to the Second World War. They are now called the Commonwealth Games and sometimes ‘The Friendly Games’.

The countries that compete in the games are members of the British Commonwealth, previously known as the British Empire. New Zealand, as a member of both, has been present every time the games have been held.

Empire Games medal, 1934, Phillips, F. England. Gift of Douglas Crump, 2009. Te Papa

Empire Games medal, 1934, Phillips, F. England. Gift of Douglas Crump, 2009. Te Papa

The bronze medal above was awarded to swimmer Noel Crump at the second games held in London in 1934, when he came third in the 100 yards freestyle event.

New Zealand hosted the tenth Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974. These games were televised and reached a wide audience who enjoyed colour on their tv sets for the first time.  There was also an official Games pop song, ‘Join Together’, which reached no. 2 on the pop charts.

Coasters, ’Xth British Commonwealth Games’, 1974, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Gift of Jan Sammons, 2008. Te Papa

Coasters, ’Xth British Commonwealth Games’, 1974, Maker unknown, New Zealand. Gift of Jan Sammons, 2008. Te Papa

The distinctive games logo was created by Wellington designer Colin Simon. It cleverly referenced NZ, X (the Roman numeral for 10), and the Union Jack (Britain’s flag). The logo appeared on official team uniforms and souvenirs alike.

Auckland hosted the Games again in 1990. These were New Zealand’s most successful, in terms of the number of medals won.

The 1990 games were part of New Zealand’s sesquicentennial. This was the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which saw New Zealand become a colony and part of the British Empire.

Read more about New Zealand and its relationship with the British Empire in Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa. 

By Kirstie Ross | Posted in Collections Online, History, Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (4)
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