Story: Public protest

Wellywood blockade

Wellywood blockade

A June 2011 plan by Wellington airport to mount a large ‘Wellywood’ sign (referring to the city's film industry) on its land beside the airport generated a storm of protest amongst Wellingtonians. Many thought it was a cheap copy of the Hollywood sign, and wanted something that expressed Wellington’s identity. Some were so outraged they organised a slow-moving blockade of the airport’s terminal, clogging the traffic for several hours. This is one of the 100 or so cars on the protest. A ‘Wellington’ sign was put up instead.

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Dominion Post
Photograph by Maarten Holl

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How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Public protest - Pickets, blockades and boycotts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/35098/wellywood-blockade (accessed 15 May 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 26 Apr 2023