item details
Name'Patu!' poster
ProductionWellington Media Collective; printing firm; 1983; New Zealand
Chris McBride; designer; 1983; New Zealand
D P Witehira; illustrator; 1983; New Zealand
Barney Pikari; designer; 1983; New Zealand
Chris McBride; designer; 1983; New Zealand
D P Witehira; illustrator; 1983; New Zealand
Barney Pikari; designer; 1983; New Zealand
Classificationpolitical posters
Materialspaper, ink
Materials SummaryTwo colour screenprint
Techniquesscreen printing
DimensionsOverall: 489mm (width), 640mm (height)
Registration NumberGH024637
Credit linePurchased 2015
Overview
This poster was designed by Chris McBride and Barney Pikari with the illustration by D P Witehira. It advertises Merata Mita's political film Patu! Mita brought together film of the violent clashes during the Springbok rugby tour protests in 1981.
The Springbok Tour was a seminal event in New Zealand's political and social history - exposing deep rifts in society. Many New Zealanders objected to the tour because of South Africa's policy of racial apartheid. Protests caused obstruction and the cancellation of games, and violence escalated between protesters, supporters and police during the tour.
Many people saw the tour as an opportunity to address racism in New Zealand. Māori protestors challenged non-Māori New Zealanders over the double-standard of fighting apartheid in South Africa instead of racism and deep-seated injustices here.