Black and white photo of a large group of people marching alongside a rural road. The person at the front is carrying a large flag

Protest, antiracism, and activismKaikiri-kore me te mautohe

Read about protest collecting, decolonisation, and antiracism from our tohunga, and across the web. By recording protest movements both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas through the collections, it creates a tangible history of issues that motivated New Zealanders to get up and have our voices heard.

Tiny Statements: A social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges

The words and symbols we’ve worn. This small book with a big heart delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Close up of badges with anti-nuclear messages on them

Tiny activism: the power of badges

Curator and badge enthusiast Steph Gibson shares one of her favourite objects in the collection, and explains the role badges played in our protest history.

Kia hiwa rā! Resistance, persistence, and defiance in Aotearoa

Explore protest in Aotearoa through our Collections Online. You can delve into why people protest, explore activism in your own community, and grow your own skills as a changemaker.

A photo of someone writing Chinese using light outside in the dark

The Hong Kong protest movement and Aotearoa New Zealand

The Hong Kong protests evolved and continued through much of the first half of 2020. This collection was donated by the activist group, We Are Kiwi Hong Kongers, to ensure that the history of the Hong Kong protest movement in Aotearoa New Zealand would be preserved and recorded.

1981 Springbok Rugby Tour – Cardboard and clown suits

Aotearoa New Zealand erupted into violent protests when the South African Springbok rugby team toured the country from July to September 1981. Curator History Stephanie Gibson takes us through some of the items in our collection that record what many people wore as personal protection during the protests.

A group of people march in a line holding placards

Watch: Stories of perseverance, from Parihaka to Polynesian Panthers

Hear kōrero (discussion) on the invasion at Parihaka, the Takaparawhā Bastion Point protests and eviction, the Samoan Mau and the events around ‘Black Saturday’, and the work of the Polynesian Panthers and other Pacific activists in Aotearoa.

Decolonise or indigenise: moving towards sovereign spaces and the Māorification of New Zealand museology

Sustainable indigenised practice in colonial museum models – is there such a thing? Kaihāpai Mātauranga Māori | Head of Mātauranga Māori Puawai Cairns explores this question in this adaptation of a speech given in 2019.

Green fence with a hand-painted sign on it saying, 'Give nothing to racism' in green and black.

Protest movements in our collections

Items in our collection displaying opposition in regard to particular political or social issues.

Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance

An illustrated history of protest and activism in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Futurelearn: A History of Protest in Aotearoa New Zealand free course

From historic protests to modern-day activism, explore a variety of social movements in Aotearoa New Zealand. This link will take you to our free course on FutureLearn.

A cartoon of two women facing two police men

Objects from Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance

A selection of our collection items used in the book Protest Tautohetohe: Objects of Resistance, Persistence and Defiance

Stephanie Gibson holds a rainbow ribbon from this year’s Pride Festival

The small but powerful effects of tiny activism

History curator Stephanie Gibson has a particular interest in how tiny things can have big impacts – especially in protest movements. She talks through some of these objects which feature in Te Papa’s collection, but also her personal one.

Quiz: How well do you know protest in Aotearoa?

New Zealand has had its fair share of major protest issues, and over the decades New Zealanders have become adept at mobilising around causes – from protests about wars, to the rights of women and LGBTQI+ people, protecting the environment, and race relations.

Antiracism and activism videos, articles, and links from around the web

Dive into some recent online articles and opinion pieces.

A closeup photo of inscription on a wooden baton, saying 'Combats anarchy, brutality, socialism'. The full baton is shown below.

Te Papa curators respond to Donald Trump’s refugee ban

In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s order to ban refugees entering the country, cultural institutions across the globe have been vocal in protest. Here Te Papa curators share their thoughts.