From the 1930s into the 1970s wrestling was a popular audience sport in New Zealand.
Newspapers carried regular coverage and there were print magazines devoted to the sport. Bouts were broadcast live on the radio and people followed bouts blow-by-blow – or rather, hold by hold. Many popular wrestlers were men of Dalmatian heritage, including Frank Boric, John and Tony Garea, Frank Lipanovich, Dick Hrstich, Andy Yerkovich and Jure Jelicich, although they often wrestled under different professional names. Steve Ogilvie, a historian of New Zealand wrestling will give a talk on the history of the sport in this country along with its special Dalmatian connection.
Join Steve at the Dalmatian Cultural Society – also a unique site in Tāmaki Makaurau's cultural heritage landscape.
