Story: Cold War

1951 waterfront dispute

Some conservatives believed that the 1951 waterfront dispute was a communist plot to cripple New Zealand. It is a view supported by this Gordon Minhinnick cartoon, which shows the wharfies as a puppet operated by a puppeteer from the World Federation of Trade Unions, who also sports a Soviet hammer-and-sickle badge. In the sound file the trade unionist and watersider Toby Hill offers a different view.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald
Reference: 050908NZHMIN2.JPG
Cartoon by Gordon Edward George Minhinnick

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (1951 Waterfront dispute/Reference number T1683)

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Gerald Hensley, 'Cold War - The Cold War at home', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/32719/1951-waterfront-dispute (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Gerald Hensley, published 20 Jun 2012