There were many key events that had occured in the past which resulted to the 1981 Springbok Tour. When the National Party was elected in 1948, people were separated into three races and were given specific rights and limitations, known as apartheid. The system didn’t allow people of different races to play sport together and therefore requested Maori players to be excluded when touring South Africa. The issue of sporting contact between New Zealand and South African rugby teams had calmed since 1921 when the Springboks toured for the first time. However in 1960, it broke out into what was described as, “the most menacing controversy in the history of sport in New Zealand”. In 1921 when the Springboks won against the Maori team, a South African journalist had written about how people were cheering on Maori to defeat people of their own race. In 1957, protests began to exclude Maori players from the All Blacks when they tour South Africa. The protest grew when the rugby union announced its decision to exclude Maori from the team. Many New Zealanders had strong opinions about this decision and protested with the slogan “No Maoris, No Tour” to try change their decision. In 1977, The Gleneagles Agreement was issued to prevent sporting contact with South Africa. Prime Minister Muldoon’s interpretation was that it was a matter for individual sporting bodies to decide. The Muldoon government refused to stop the tour, arguing that New Zealanders had a right to play sports with anyone they chose. The 1981 Springbok Tour was a result of many events that had happened in the past and significantly affected many New Zealanders as everyone had their own opinion.
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The 1981 Springbok Tour caused a lot of controversy, which lead to strong opinions held by many. The Springboks were coming back to visit since 1965 and the tour supporters were determined for it not the be ruined. However, the anti-tour movement was just as set on showing its opposition to the tour. There were a number of organisations that had gained popularity in their opposition to the tour. Formed in 1969, Halt All Racist Tours (HART) had a goal of stopping sporting contact with South Africa. According to John Minto, the national organiser for HART, “the tour’s greatest impact on NZ society was to stimulate debate of racism and the place of Maori citizens.” The Patu Squad and Citizens Association for Racial Equality (CARE) were also popular groups that focused on ending sporting contact with South Africa. People who gave the pro-tour movement a public face were men such as Ces Blazey and Ron Don of the NZRFU. Blazey consistently states that the tour was legal and agreed with Muldoon that politics should not interfere with sports. Minister of police and former All Black Ben Couch, had his own rugby career affected by apartheid policies. He viewed apartheid as a political policy, however argued that rugby contact with New Zealand could help South Africa change for better. Historian Jock Phillips saw the tour as “representing the emergence of an independant Pacific nation to challenge the previous image of New Zealand as the Britain of the South Seas.” The 1981 Springbok Tour had a significant impact on New Zealand. Many New Zealanders held their own opinions about the tour, which even lead to conflict between friends and family.
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During the 1981 Springbok Tour, a number of significant protests took place across the country. For many New Zealanders, it was a time to speak out on opinions and have a say in what they believed was right. Before the Springboks came to tour, the Red Squad and Blue Squad were two police units formed to escort the Springboks. In Gisborne, the Springboks won the first game, and this was where the the two opposing groups confronted each other for the first time. The match in Hamilton had been invaded by hundreds of protesters and was called off by police chief Bob Walton. He claimed that the entire police force could not have stopped the protest. The protest on Molesworth Street outside Parliament had people dressed in riot gear to avoid injuries. This was the first time batons had to be used on the protesters. When they played against Wellington the second time, the streets were surrounded by protesters that could be compared to a “battlefield”. Groups blocked motorway exits and police responded by forming “human wedges” to allow rugby spectators through. Auckland was the third test of the Springbok Tour and it was where “all hell broke loose”. Red Squad members described it as “the most violent day in the force”. As the minister of police, Ben Couch took his responsibilities seriously and believed that the police had to ensure the games went ahead. They spent an estimate of $15 million on “Operation Rugby”. The Springbok Tour lasted 56 days and divided the country, many people were injured and the entire country suffered. This caused families to divide as oppositions became more intense.
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A number of short term effects were experienced because of The 1981 Springbok Tour as it caused divisions between the entire New Zealand society. The Springbok Tour protests had been one of the most controversial event throughout New Zealand history. The most effect it had on New Zealand society is racial issues being revealed. People were relating the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa with racism here. Maori joined the protesters to specifically attack racism and confronted people with the question, “If you campaign about race in South Africa, what about at home?” The Patu Squad was formed to represent Maori opposition to the tour, emphasising on racism in New Zealand and push for mana motuhake. The other protest groups did not agree with this and many were arrested as the protest became more aggressive. A survey reveals that many people from the larger cities in Auckland were against they tour, and many were of educated middle-class people. However, the support from rural areas were much higher, as they wanted the tour to proceed. There were immediate effects after the tour was over, especially Muldoon’s National Party winning the 1981 General Elections because they won provincial seats that might’ve fallen. However, votes had been lost in the bigger cities where protests were greater. The Springbok Tour had created a crisis that divided the entire country. It had caused tension and conflict between friends and family, co-workers, club members and many other social groups. Differences between cities and provinces became more obvious and people became more aware of racial intolerance. People’s respect for the police had also been damaged. The 1981 Springbok Tour revealed many of New Zealand’s issues and had caused divisions between the entire country.
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The 1981 Springbok tour was a significant event in New Zealand history, there were many long term consequences involved. According to John Minto, the tour protests had helped improve the situation for Maori citizens in New Zealand. Minto states that there had been a bigger effect in New Zealand society than South Africa in the long term. For example, The Waitangi Tribunal had only looked new grievances, however after the tour, past grievances have been addressed. People have also realised that “you can’t protest against racism 6,000 miles away when it’s right here in your country.” Racism had been recognised in New Zealand and Maori were given a place to stand in their own land. This was a great event as a result of the Springbok Tour and many Maori lives have been affected because of this racism recognition. In 1984, the Labour government was elected. They introduced nuclear-free legislation and enabled the homosexual law. New Zealand wasn’t the only country to have consequences due to the tour, South Africa had also come to terms with apartheid. The anti-apartheid movement was encouraged by the events in New Zealand. Nelson Mandela was let out from prison and was elected as the president of South Africa in 1994. After the issue of apartheid being a part of a long process of conflict, it lead to significant changes in Africa. As a result, South Africa acknowledged New Zealand’s contribution towards a major international event. The Springbok Tour caused a lot of conflict in the society, however, the society had come to terms and addressed racism issues in not only in New Zealand, but also South Africa.