Helmet

This scooter helmet was worn by John Minto, the national organiser of Halt All Racist Tours (HART) during the Springbok rugby tour in 1981. He was the most recognisable person of the anti-tour movement, and was often seen out front of the protesters wearing overalls and his blue scooter helmet for protection.

Hard heads

Minto’s girlfriend at the time gave him the helmet for protection after police violence against protesters on Molesworth Street, Wellington, on 29 July. This came shortly after Minto was attacked after the cancellation of the Waikato-Springbok game in Hamilton on 25 July, when he had been beaten on the head with a bottle, then pursued into a nearby house and beaten again by pro-tour supporters.

This is a relatively lightweight scooter helmet - many front-line protesters wore tougher helmets, such as motorcycle and safety helmets, to protect themselves from police batons and objects thrown by rugby supporters.