File:Map of Black Saturday, 28 December 1929, Samoa (28032474070).jpg

On 28 December 1929, at least 8 Samoans and one police officer were killed during what has become known as ‘Black Saturday’.

The exact details of the clash between the New Zealand administration in Samoa and the Mau Movement–¬a pacifist resistance movement advocating independence from New Zealand–are contested. The government blamed the Mau for the incident, stating Mau violently prevented the arrest of one of their members and proceeded to launch an attack on both officers and the Apia Police station. As a result, officers fired into the crowd (as well as firing 4 bursts of a Lewis machine gun over the crowd and into the sea).

Samoan testimonies argue that while the arrest was prevented, the incident was pre-meditated, Police were heavy handed, and that Mau leaders were shot down while urging calm. They argue the machine gun was actually fired into the crowd, and not into the sea.

The incident soured already deteriorating relations between the majority of Samoans and the New Zealand administration, leading to government raids on villages and further violence. It is a dark example of New Zealand’s role in the Pacific, for which PM Helen Clark apologised in 2002.

This diagram maps the events of Black Saturday, and follows the movements of Mau demonstrators and police in Apia that day. It shows the route of the march, the main area of confrontation, the retreat of the police and the trajectory of the shots fired from the Lewis machine gun mounted on the balcony of the police station. The Mau flag, the location of some of the Mau leaders and the place where the New Zealand Police officer was killed are also identified.

More information can be found at www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/samoa/black-saturday

Archives Reference: ACHK 16603 G48 Box 40/ S/19 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=19162283