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Story: Africa and New Zealand

Independence gift

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Independence gift

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is shown here with a Māori carving that was given to him by the New Zealand government in 1980, when Zimbabwe became independent. At the time Mugabe, who had led a guerrilla war against white minority rule during the 1970s, was seen as a hero.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAEG W2972 Box 1 37

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Megan Cook, Africa and New Zealand – Politics, apartheid and sport: 1940s to 1990s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35926/independence-gift (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Megan Cook, published 15 May 2012.