Shield

This shield was one of several made by brothers Michael and Gerard Dobson in preparation for protests on the day of the second rugby test at Athletic Park, Wellington, on 29 August 1981, during the Springbok tour of New Zealand.

They were members of the Brown Squad marshalled by Tama Poata. Their name was in riposte to the Police's Red Squad. The Red Squad was trained in riot tactics and carried long batons. Members of the Brown Squad on the front line wore helmets, body armour, and carried shields for protection. Their policy was to not use violence. Michael Dobson recalled many years later that the two sides faced each other like 'street theatre' as the police called out to each other 'pick your target' (pers. comm. 2023).

As can be seen with the poster on this shield, shields provided an effective canvas for protest images and messages, which would have been seen by police and pro-tour supporters at very close quarters during the more intense clashes.

The poster pasted was published by the Stop the Tour Action Committee, Wellington. 'Azania' was a term for South Africa often used by Black African nationalists during the apartheid era.

The protests were about something much deeper than rugby: people were taking a stand against apartheid in South Africa and racism in New Zealand.