Troops deployed in waterfront dispute

The waterfront dispute of 1951 was the biggest industrial confrontation in New Zealand’s history. Although it was not as violent as the Great Strike of 1913, it lasted longer – for five months, from 15 February to 15 July – and involved more workers. At its peak, 22,000 waterside workers (‘wharfies’) and other unionists were off the job.

Sid Holland’s National government declared a state of emergency on 21 February. The following day Holland warned that New Zealand was ‘at war’. On the 27th, troops were sent onto the Auckland and Wellington wharves to load and unload ships. Draconian emergency regulations imposed rigid censorship, gave police sweeping powers of search and arrest, and made it an offence for citizens to assist strikers – even giving food to their children was outlawed.

As the dispute dragged on through autumn and winter, there was widespread intimidation and sporadic outbursts of violence. On the night of 30 April a railway bridge near Huntly was dynamited. Train drivers were warned in advance and no one was hurt, but coal supplies were severely disrupted. Prime Minister Holland called this ‘an infamous act of terrorism’.

On several occasions, unionist street protests were broken up by ranks of baton-wielding police. The worst incident occurred in Auckland on 1 June – ‘Bloody Friday’ – when police violently dispersed up to 1000 marchers in Queen S. One victim suffered a suspected fractured skull and 20 others were treated for lacerations, concussion and bruises.

By the end of May, with new unions of strike-breakers (denounced by unionists as ‘scabs’) registered in the main ports, the wharfies’ position was becoming increasingly hopeless. They conceded defeat on 15 July.

Image: Watersiders’ loyalty card, 1951