The protests that occurred included a variety of strategies involving regular demonstrations and marches to venues where games were being held, and pitch invasions which left a huge impact on our society. On August 15 1981, Christchurch was a city on edge. A short-term effect of the 1981 Springbok Tour on New Zealand society was the increasingly evident division in opinions and values between New Zealanders from different backgrounds.The violent clashes between anti-Tour protesters and pro-Tour rugby fans were evidence of a growing rift between the educated, urban … Tell me more... Can you find out where the different university student associations stood? New Zealand and South Africa were rivals within rugby and frequently played each other. A tour supporter looks back 'I'm Ron Don, and in 1981 I was chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, and I was on the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The first tour match, in Gisborne, remote from the main centres where protests were likely to be … Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Opinion polls indicated that a majority of those questioned in the four main centres (and in some other cities, such as Palmerston North and Nelson) opposed the tour. The map is based on an original that appeared in Malcolm McKinnon (ed. The 1981 Springbok tour was no different, and generated much support from people right across the country who believed that politics should not and were not involved in sport at the time of the tour. Commercial re-use may be allowed on request. For 56 days in July, August and September 1981, New Zealanders were divided against each other in the largest civil disturbance seen since the 1951 waterfront dispute. OVerview of the tour Despite protests by much of the New Zealand public and the international community, the 1981 Springbok tour went ahead as planned. Opinion polls indicated that a majority of those questioned in the four main centres (and in some other cities, such as Palmerston North and Nelson) opposed the tour. A huge variety of people showed up in protest of the tour, coming from a range different economic and social backgrounds. The Springboks won the rugby game however the real action was happening around the venue. This post is part of a series remembering the 1981 Springbok Tour.. No one knew just how the protests would play out. 1981 Springbok tour Page 6 – Battle lines are drawn. ... HART in 1981, became one of the public faces of the anti-tour movement and attracted special criticism from Muldoon and pro-tour supporters. The most staunch rugby supporters no doubt came from the more rural areas of New Zealand, with that being the group … As Springbok Captain Wynand Classen recalls. The most staunch rugby supporters no doubt came from the more rural areas of New Zealand, with that being the group that Muldoon was targeting when he signed off on the tour. The first test match of the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour of New Zealand (Tour) was to be played at Lancaster Park. Major protests against the tour occurred throughout the country. The question asked was 'Should a Springbok rugby team have come to New Zealand?'. Opinion on social and political issues often differed sharply between the cities and the rest of New Zealand. He was therefore 'pro-tour', and held the stern view that politics and sport should not mix. The South African Springboks and the All Blackrugby teams had toured New Zealand and South Africa before 1981. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. There is a The South African rugby tour of 1981 revealed deep rifts within New Zealand society. 2 Even in the most stressful, violent moments of the Springbok rugby union tour of New Zealand in 1981, those on either side of the conflict—protestors and the New Zealand prime minister—were concerned with international perceptions. Opinion around New Zealand on the 1981 Springbok tour, Map showing opinion around New Zealand on the Springbok tour. Actions taken. It was an ironic use of the term "Civil Rights" for what was clearly a pro-rugby group. Opinion around New Zealand on the 1981 Springbok tour. HART possibly played the biggest role in the Springbok tour protests, as despite many organisations for each area being established to … This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. They proposed a neutral position of neither opposing nor supporting. Even though the viewpoints of most of New Zealand people were ignored by the NZRFU and Muldoon's government, who continued upholding the policy of "no politics in sport", action was undertaken by anti-tour protesters in Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Wellington and Christchurch, not to mention also in the battle of Molesworth Street which resulted in extensive violence that polarised New Zealand. There we a number of actions that were taken by protestors and tour supporters. It divided society over pro-tour and anti-tour. Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share? Muldoon resisted pressure to cancel the 1981 Springbok tour due to the 1973 tour being cancelled but as a result he was accused of breaking the 1977 Glen Eagles agreement New Zealand had signed. The South African rugby tour of 1981 revealed deep rifts within New Zealand society. Picture / Paul Estcourt ... where pro-tour feeling was strongest. Try these sites for information about the background of this particular tour and why it was controversial. 1809122 Violent encounters between anti-tour protesters and pro-tour supporters and police occurred all over the country. The New Zealand Rugby Union believed that its only responsibility was to administer rugby in New Zealand. The 1981 Springbok tour was no different, and generated much support from people right across the country who believed that politics should not and were not involved in sport at the time of the tour. The data in the table is from the Evening Post, 13 August 1981, p. 1. Protests against the South African rugby team touring New Zealand divided the country in 1981. ), New Zealand historical atlas, David Bateman, Auckland, 1997. The face of the red squad Ross Meurant is tired of talking about The Tour. For two months during the Springbok tour of 1981, Kiwis took their corners in the battle over apartheid in a groundswell of public emotion that helped redefine a nation. It caused controversy amongst New Zealand society and it was the largest civil dispute seen since the 1951 Waterfront Strike. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the first match of the 1981 Springbok tour to New Zealand - a tour that in less than two months … I don't regret anything that was said or done in 1981. Not only was not opposing tacit support, but it was crucial for the NZUSA position, as four campuses opposed the Tour, and three supported the Tour. The long batons used by riot police during the tour were nicknamed … Meet the NZHistory.net.nz team. How ready New Zealanders were to attack each other over ultimately a Rugby match shows the rift there was within New Zealand society during the course of the 1981 … How was the springbok tour important to the people at the time? 1981 Springbok Tour: Home; Causes of the event Key individuals and groups. Needless to say, I was very pro-tour. 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This was due to the many beliefs and differences in which occurred during the tour; people were either pro-tour or anti-tour … Just as it would be with any dispute, there are always two sides to every story. The final match of the 1981 Springbok tour. The 1981 Springbok Tour was one of the most polarizing events in New Zealand’s history. Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981. 1981 Springbok tour Page 1 – Introduction. 1981 Springbok tour From Montreal to Gleneagles The All Blacks accepted an invitation to tour South Africa in 1976, when world attention was fixed on the republic because of the Soweto riots. The social split that had come about in New Zealand was apparent when the tour supporters violently tried to fend off the protesters, with police stepping in with batons to push the protesters back. Can anyone confirm this? The 1981 Springbok tour ... Pro-tour supporters claimed that politics had nothing to do with sport and that the two areas should remain separate. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. A country divided. Rugby stirred passionate feelings among New Zealanders, more obviously so in small towns and rural areas . The 1981 protests were the most extreme, in which thousands of New Zealanders took part in civil disobedience in the form of protests and taking extreme action like invading the rugby pitches. Because of the very strong feelings about South Africa’s apartheid policy the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand was always going to bring protests and controversy. I watched Tom Scott’s drama Rage about the 1981 Springbok Tour on the tele last Sunday night. He is the face of Red Squad, the infamous riot-control group which kept protesters at bay during the 1981 Springbok tour. New Zealand went through social change during this time of conflict, and it was something that New Zealand had never experienced before as people were rising to attempt to take control of a country's international race relations through public dispute. 1981 Springbok Tour Protests, New Zealand. Though I didn’t think much of the femme fatale storyline – it centred on a Māori police graduate who infiltrated an anti-tour protest group, hopped into … photos The emergence of anti-tour groups led to the opposition to these groups emerging as pro-tour groups. Protest … The 1981 South African rugby tour (known in New Zealand as the Springbok Tour, and in South Africa as the Rebel Tour) polarised opinions and inspired widespread protests across New Zealand.The controversy also extended to the United States, where the South African rugby team continued their tour after departing New … SCIS no. The 1981 Springbok Tour was a momentous time in New Zealand’s history and has been the subject of much debate since. Veteran rugby administrator Ron Don's legacy on the national game is as strong as the stance he took on the 1981 Springbok tour, which divided the nation. On September 12th 1980, the Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (N.Z.R.F.U) Ron Don, formally invited the South African rugby team to come tour … However, due to recent Apartheid policies in South Africa following the Soweto Riots, the New Zealand rugby team was not allowed to include some of their most valuable players in the team, for they were Maori.This caused … Springbok Tour 1981. Hundreds were killed as the authorities ruthlessly suppressed protests. The joke among the left was that in their case Civil Rights should be spelt as one word. However as opposition to apartheid grew in the decades prior to the 1981 Springbok tour, conflict began surround the apartheid policy in … An explanation of these perspectives is generally provided (4) (7) (8) (11). Anti-apartheid protesters prepared themselves for an uncertain day, donning protective clothing and making final preparations for the march to the rugby ground. the pro-tour movement As is the case with any protest movement, there were groups and individuals of the time who expressed opinions contrary to that of the groups protesting for change. Both sides, Pro-tour and Anti tour confronted each other. The central argument of the pro-tour movement was that politics and sports should be kept separate but this was proved to be inaccurate. Discover the reasons behind this civil disobedience, as well as the demonstrations, police actions and the politics of playing sports. All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. From the 1960s new social patterns and attitudes developed in the main cities and amongst the university-educated, but not necessarily in small towns and rural New Zealand. The move to stop the Springbok Tour of New Zealand in 1981 commenced well before the Springboks were welcomed into New Zealand officially on July 19 1981. They firmly believed that sports and politics shouldn't mix and thus reiterated this idea to the New Zealand public. I was at Otago University at the time and a number of Tour supporters (including Mike Laws) had a group call SCRUM (Students Civil Rights University Movement) who wanted to end OUSA (Otago University Student's Association's opposition to the Tour. In this student’s evidence about the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand indepth - understanding is demonstrated by providing a wide number of perspectives that show convincing understanding (1) (2) (3) (5). Anti-tour movement pro-tour … Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Te Ara is an excellent starting point for all questions about New Zealand Aotearoa. This group of tour supporters was key for Muldoon to remain in government with an election that year. In 1981, anti-Springbok tour protesters argued that sport was not separate from politics, especially when New Zealand was up against a South African team selected on racial grounds.They felt that playing rugby against South Africa condoned apartheid. Opinion on the Springbok tour. intense 1981 tour still divides opinion Drama was in abundance for the 49,000 who crammed into Eden Park for the deciding test of the 1981 test series against the Springboks. This is not to 1981: a divided New Zealand. It brought NZ attention and shame due to police brutality and our sporting contact with South Africa published in newspapers throughout the whole world. I believe that Lincoln and Waikato were supporting the Tour, and possibly Massey. If one more had changed then NZUSA could not have maintained its opposition. This data is from a poll carried out by the New Zealand Herald between 25 and 30 July 1981. Not all comments posted. A protester places an olive branch on a long baton during protests against the 1981 Springbok tour. When New Zealanders became aware of the harsh treatment the ‘Black’ Africans received due to the apartheid system that was implemented into South African society, many people sought to stop the tour. This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. In stark contrast, public opinion strongly favoured the tour in provincial centres such as Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Timaru and Invercargill. Background. He believes the protests would not have happened if there hadn't been such strong feelings about the Springboks being in New Zealand. These anti-tour protestors were successful in stopping two games, in Hamilton and Timaru and even when games … If we scroll down to the bottom of the page we can see that the website b… 26 affiliated unions and almost all of clubs in the country supported their decision in arranging the Springbok tour… The pro-tour movement wasn't an organised group of individuals looking to publicize their views, they just retalliated to the anti-tour protesters disrupting the tour often violently. The 1981 Springbok Tour was a tour involving a NZ Rugby team and the South African Springboks. The lack of opposition given by the Muldoon government effectively allowed the NZRFU to carry out the tour uninhibited-other than action from the public. Home Images and media These groups supported the tour, and thus believed that the tour was a good thing for New Zealand. What actually happened during the 1981 springbok tour in New Zealand? 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