2022-04-23 New Zealand - Anti-White's Hate Rhodesian Museum

[Ryan-NZ]

We get a mention at the bottom of the article ...

Kiwi seaside town hosts Rhodesian museum where a racist regime's war is honoured

Annemarie Quill | Stuff.co.nz | 23 April 2022

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300570733/kiwi-seaside-town-hosts-rhodesian-museum-where-a-racist-regimes-war-is-honoured

Excerpt: Historian Scott Hamilton raised concerns about the Rhodesian Services Association, saying the "pro-apartheid" museum would once again be playing a major role in Mount Maunganui's Anzac Day commemorations.

Hamilton noted that the latest issue of the Association's newsletter begins with a quote from a song by Clem Tholet, "a hero of 21st century neo-Nazis."

"Tholet was a singer-songwriter who flourished under the white minority government of @IanSmith. Many US neo-Nazis came to fight for that government, and Tholet's song 'Rhodesians Never Die' has become a 21st century anthem for the racist right," he wrote.

Hamilton, who is currently writing a book on white supremacy in New Zealand, said the existence of the museum "is equivalent to having a museum glorifying the atrocities of the Holocaust and the Nazi army."

"The way Ian Smith is depicted as a hero and revered as a godlike figure in the museum is hugely concerning given he is a man who openly advocated for white supremacy and was responsible for a time for appalling atrocities and the killing of thousands.

"It would be unthinkable to have a museum glorifying Hitler but here we have this museum in Tauranga telling a story of Rhodesia from a white perspective that denies its true history of how the white minority oppressively ruled over the black majority."

Hamilton said he was concerned how the association reflected a growing diaspora in New Zealand and around the world with sympathies towards the regime in Rhodesia.

"In America far right extremists have identified with the regime and in one of the museum's newsletters it says how it gets enquiries from around the world and disseminates information."

In response to the criticism of the association and the museum, Bomford told Stuff that the organisation was not celebrating any particular period of history, but that it had a "goal of having a reference point of our history."

"Rhodesia existed in that name from 1890 to 1980, and we do our best to cover the whole military side of that history. We are a museum displaying historic details and artefacts."

Regarding the museum's depiction of Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith, Bomford said that the display board on Smith details his service in the Royal Air Force and not his politics.

"There are details of a New Zealand connection as well as the actions of a brave and resourceful man."

Bomford said the museum is funded through membership, trading, donation and fundraising.

There have been recent concerns about white supremacy activity in Tauranga following the distribution of leaflets throughout the city.

Police said that they are aware of this and while they understand it may be offensive, it does not constitute a criminal offence.

This response has been criticised by experts who say that police and the government needed to take action.

[Ryan-NZ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d0V-zbiGMs

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7QDyq9QbJxEC2zN_41ETBg

[Ryan-NZ]

https://youtu.be/41-dLH5YqeU