Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 8. 1971
Pekapeka
Pekapeka
I don't come from the kind of background that allows you to understand the violence that erupted at Easter's Peka Peka festival. So there are not going to be any liberal generalisations about the Mongrels (whatever that means) or the violence. Instead it might be worth pointing out to the organisers that in future they should try to get a better understanding of the kind of people they are going to exploit. The bulk of the "audience" were there to drink in the sun and watch the crowd, and listen to the music when it was good. They probably soon got bored. At least as the afternoon wore on many were waiting for the fighting they knew would break out. Looks like they weren't disappointed.
There were no arrests as a result of the fighting on the site, but some people were taken into custody outside the farm before and after the concert. The police, although not at the concert in force, have been quick to bring prosecutions. Perhaps anxious to show a sceptical public that the forces of law are vigilant even in their own absence, numerous arrests and charges have resulted. Many of these are being brought as a result of photographic "evident", from press photographer covering the concert. Despite police assurances to the contrary (in writing articles like this it's difficult not to sound like a liberal) you get the feeling that the police are desperately trying to convince people that they had everything under constant control.
As the "Evening Post" pointed out, had the police arrived on the scene in time to prevent most of the fights an all-out police versus gang brawl would probably have resulted. Well, almost: many of those in the amphitheatre would have lobbed bottles down onto the brawl if it had taken place, but it's hard to believe that the Mongrels (or anyone else for that matter) would have the guts to stop beating one another up and get stuck into a few pigs for a change.
Sunday is Anzac Day: a Day of Remembrance. It's the one day in the year for the commercialised mourning of the dead in war, for the quiet drowing of old memories and wounds. Most of us should remember to thank our parents, and the taxpayers of this country, all of whom appear to have had some hand in defending what is precious to us; and never tire of reminding us of our supposed debt.
This year, however, things are going to be different. As you know, last year small groups of daring young social climbers throughout the country placed wreathes on memorials in defiance of government and RSA mumblings. This year, the executive of NZUSA, the Secondary School Students Against the War, PYM, and Marsden Kindergarten are all going to be in on the act. Looks like rank commercialism has taken a hold of even this sacred radical practice.