Shin pads

These shin pads were made to provide protection for a sports player. However, these pads were worn by an anti-Springbok rugby tour protester (Michael Dobson) during protest actions around Athletic Park in Wellington on the day of the second test on 29 August 1981. The wearer sneakily attached a small hacksaw blade to one of the pads in case they were arrested and ‘handcuffed’ with plastic ties by police. However, on the day of the march, very few arrests were made as securing and processing a large number of people would have stretched police resources too far.

Significance

Those in the front line needed to be resourceful as clashes between anti-tour protesters, rugby supporters, and police became increasingly violent.