Battle of Manners Street
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The Battle of Manners Street refers to a dispute about admitting Maori soldiers into the Allied Services Club.
During World War II there were many overseas Allied Troops stationed in New Zealand. The Post Office building in Manners Street, Wellington became a social centre for military personnel - known as the Allied Services Club. It was open to all members of the armed forces.
However some of the American soldiers using the Services Club felt very strongly that Maori soldiers should not be admitted. The dispute simmered for some time and then on 3 April, 1943, they began, forcibly, to prevent the Maori from entering.
There were many New Zealand soldiers in the area, both Pakeha and Maori and they were united in resenting this discrimination. Well over a thousand men were involved in the subsequent fighting and it was four hours before the civil and military police were able to restore order. Two people were killed and dozens injured.
No mention was made of the incident in the press and it was twenty years before the findings of the Court of Inquiry were released.