From Calm to Confrontation

Rip It Up, Issue 89, 1 December 1984, Page 2

From Calm to Confrontation

The 89 Triple M free concert in Aotea Square on December 7 seemed a wonderful idea. It began warmly and cheerfully with a sunny set from Herbs - and ended in the worst rioting Queen St has seen since 1932. Everyone has a theory on what happened and why. Here's the words andpictures.

is followed by a loud cheer. “It’s their bloody fault!” comes an exasperated young woman’s voice. Other voices as the crowd moves are more puzzled than worried. A drunken-sounding voice wanders in and out of range: "... arseholes, bastards ...” ; One woman screams, then shortly after comes the voice of what sounds like a young Maori kid: “Hey ... we might get on TV!” The manager of DO Smash, Roger King, confirmed later that the band had not planned to stop early and had only done so at the request of the police “But there were mistakes made in all directions,” he said. “And there’s certainly nothing good you can say about the behaviour of the people.” He also confirmed that police had spoken to Dobbyn regarding his statements on stage but said that their questions had related as much to asking about the actions of the police as to Dobbyn’s comments. RB