NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online - waihi

'Black Tuesday' - the 1912 Waihi strike

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

The killing of Fred Evans

On 'Black Tuesday', 12 November 1912, in the midst of a bitter six-month strike by miners in the small New Zealand goldmining town of Waihi, striker Fred Evans was killed - one of only two fatalities* in an industrial dispute in New Zealand's history.

Strike supporters at 1912 Waihi strike

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Waihi workers union hall

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Strikers march, 1912 Waihi strike

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Shooting reconstruction, 1912 Waihi strike

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Waihi memorial hall

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Waihi memorial hall. For more informatiion see community contribution from Mary Carmine below.

Image: Hauraki District Council

Grave of Fred Evans

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Grave of Fred Evans at Waikaraka Cemetery on the shores of Manukau Harbour.

Fred Evans was killed during the 1912 Waihi miners' strike. He remains one of only two people to be killed during an industrial dispute in this country's history.

Fred Evans

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Fred Evans' violent death during the 1912 Waihi miners' strike made this otherwise obscure figure into a martyr of the New Zealand labour movement. He remains one of only two people to be killed during an industrial dispute in this country's history.

Fred Evans

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Portrait of Fred Evans by Dick Scott, c1913. Evans was killed during the 1912 Waihi strike.

Striker fatally wounded at Waihi

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Striking worker Fred Evans was seriously injured in a clash with police and strikebreakers during the bitter six-month-long dispute at the goldmining town of Waihi. He died the following day.

An Australian-born stationary-engine driver, Evans belonged to the militant Waihi Trade Union of Workers. Led by Bill Parry, this was affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Labour ('Red Feds') and was implacably opposed to the Waihi Goldmining Company. In May 1912 the union went on strike in protest at the formation of a company-inspired breakaway union for engine-drivers.