John Minto

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For the Oregon Pioneer, see John Minto (Oregon pioneer).
File:John Minto speaking.jpg
Minto at a 2012 Auckland Action Against Poverty beneficiary impact

John Minto (born c. 1953) is a New Zealand-based political activist known for his involvement in various left-wing groups and causes, most notably Halt All Racist Tours. A 2005 documentary on New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers listed him as number 89. Today he is involved with the protest[1] group Global Peace and Justice Auckland and the Unite Union. He also wrote a weekly column for The Press[2] and was formerly editor of the (now defunct) Workers' Charter newspaper.

Minto is a long time member of the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) and also a National Vice Chairperson[3] of QPEC, Quality Public Education Coalition (Inc) and co-vice-president of the Mana Movement.

Halt All Racist Tours

Trevor Richards, Tom Newnham and others formed Halt All Racist Tours to protest against rugby union tours to and from Apartheid South Africa, in 1969. Minto became the National Chairman of the organisation in 1980. He was assaulted by rugby supporters the evening after a disruptive protest at Rugby Park in Hamilton. This prompted him to add a protective helmet to his distinctive outfit of overalls.[4][5] He remained at the forefront of the protests.

File:Johnminto.JPG
John Minto at the 1981 springbok tour

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) listed Minto in 1981 on a list of 'subversives' for the events of that year.[citation needed] In 2005 a police baton owned by Ross Meurant, a former member of Parliament who was second in charge of the "Red Squad" during the 1981 Springbok Tour was put up for auction online labelled as a "Minto Bar",[6] a "joke" based on the co-incidence of names between John Minto and Minties, the brand name of a popular mint-flavoured sweet. In 2009 John Minto's helmet appeared in an episode of Tales from Te Papa a television series of mini-documentaries about objects from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[7]

Companion of OR Tambo Award

During January 2008 Minto publicly "rejected" a nomination for the South African Companion of OR Tambo Award, saying he was dismayed over current conditions in the country.[8] However, the Presidency of South Africa later stated that Minto had not been nominated for any national award.[9]

Global peace and justice protests in Auckland

In January 2009 Minto led a protest to the Auckland Tennis Stadium, where they demanded that Israeli player Shahar Pe'er, who served a compulsory two-years service in the Israel Defense Forces,[10] withdraw from the tournament and denounce the Israeli Government and its actions in the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, adding that she should respect international calls for a boycott against Israel. Pe'er ignored the group's demands and participated in the tournament as planned, stating at a press conference that "I think [the politics] is nothing to do with what I am doing".[11]

Maurice Williamson, a member of parliament, rebuffed the protesters at the event, stating that Pe'er was not representing Israel and was playing as a private individual, and that thus the protesters should "leave her alone".[12]

A similar protest[13] occurred at the January 2010 event, where Shahar Pe'er again competed. On the third day of protest (7 January 2010) John Minto was one of five protesters arrested[14] outside the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland on a charge of disorderly behaviour.[15][16] He was later issued[by whom?] with a 500-metre trespass-order to prevent him from continuing disruption of the play inside the tennis centre.[citation needed]

Mayoralty bid

In April 2013, Minto announced his intention to run for the mayoralty of Auckland on the Mana Movement ticket.[17] Minto has several candidates that are running for Councillor on the Minto for Mayor ticket.[18]

Internet Mana

Minto stood in the 2014 elections as a candidate for the Internet Mana party, Minto is ranked 4th on the party list.[19]

Current Life

Currently, Minto is a full-time science teacher working in a Christchurch high school working mainly in physics and teaching some other classes, he is very open and honest about what he has done and says to his students that he regrets none of it.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ JohnMinto.org.nz Archive of Minto's Press articles, in weblog format
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ [1][dead link]
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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