Racist relics

Children’s book The Story of Little Black Sambo by Scottish author Helen Bannerman was first published in 1899. Two copies are available at Wellington Library, which describes the book as: ‘‘A little boy loses his fine new clothes to the tigers, but while they dispute who is the grandest tiger in the jungle he takes his fine clothes back again.’’

In 2015 a Hamilton Pak ’n Save store pulled ‘‘Happy Golly’’ - modern versions of golliwog dolls - from its shelves. Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy said: ‘‘Golliwogs aren’t harmless toys, they were born out of racism and represent an era that is best left in the past.’’

The 1962 Maori Community Development Act has been described as ‘‘New Zealand’s most racist law’’ and allows Maori wardens to order bars to stop serving ‘‘drunk and quarrelsome’’ Maori. It also makes it illegal to serve alcohol at a gathering of Maori without a permit, while the wardens can take the car keys of any Maori who ‘‘by reason of physical or mental condition ... [is] incapable of having and exercising proper control’’. While there has been talk or repealing the law, it remains on the books.