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Story: Public protest

1932 depression protests: Auckland

A picket guards a shopfront after unemployed demonstrators ran down Queen Street, Auckland, smashing windows and looting shops. The protesters' actions followed the police batoning of their leader, Jim Edwards, at a protest outside Auckland’s town hall on 14 April. Hundreds were injured and dozens were arrested in the fracas, which an official enquiry blamed on the protesters.

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Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Reference: C17681

by Tudor Collins

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, Public protest – Destructive and violent protests, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/35108/1932-depression-protests-auckland (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 7 May 2012.