Today in NZ History http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline/25/8

New Zealand sporting links with South Africa

South Africa In 1948 South Africa introduced its policy of apartheid. This was a policy of separate but equal development for whites and non-whites. As a result of this act, inter racial mixing of any sort was forbidden (separate train carriages, buses, drinking fountains, etc) It also segregated blacks from sport. There were no racially mixed teams for any sport, and whites always had far better sporting facilities. As a result, the Springboks, S.A’s national rugby team, was whites only.

‘No Maoris, No Tour’ Springboks invited All Blacks to 1960 tour. This was on the condition that no blacks (i.e Maori) be included. ‘No Maoris, No Tour’ slogan emerges from protestors. When the Rugby Union announced that no Maori would be included in the team to tour South Africa, public protest grew dramatically. Petition of 156,00 was signed urging the tour be cancelled Shamefully, the New Zealand Rugby Union and Labour government allowed the tour to proceed despite the protests. The All blacks went on to lose the Test Series.

1970 Springbok Tour Personal Story: Mr. Manins S.A permitted Maori and Pacific Islanders to participate in the tour as ‘honorable whites’ NZ ended up touring with 3 Maori and 1 P.I Worldwide protests against S.A apartheid Many international sports teams refusing to tour S.A Personal Story: Mr. Manins

1976 Tour In1975 National Party wins election. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon refused to prevent a 1976 tour by the AB’s to S.A NZ’s international rep hit its lowest point that year. Thirty countries, including twelve black African states, boycotted the Montreal Olympics.

Cartoon Analysis 1976 Olympics This Eric Heath cartoon appeared in the Dominion on 2 September 1976, a month after the Montreal Olympics ended. The five Olympic rings have become the high walls of five separate stadiums, labelled 'America', 'Pacific', 'Africa', 'China' and 'Europe'. The cartoon posed the question of whether political disputes would destroy the internationalism of the Games' ideals − a genuine fear at the time, and one that appeared to be confirmed by events in Moscow (1980) and Los Angeles (1984).

1981 Tour Despite huge protests NZRFU invited white only springboks to tour NZ Over the eight weeks nearly 2000 New Zealanders were arrested. Various cases of arson and field destruction. The greatest civil unrest in NZ since the 1863 NZ War. Eventually tour called off due to violence. Interesting Question from Maori activists: ‘Why had so many protestors risked arrest or physical harm to support people in a country thousands of miles away when the same was going on in NZ?’

Footage from 1981 Springbok Tour

Your Task: Create a Petition Pamphlet Anti-tour protest organiser It is June 1981. You are a member of a movement opposed to the Springbok tour. There are branches of your movement throughout the country. You have been asked to write a pamphlet to send to all branches of your movement. This paper needs to outline why you believe the Springbok tour should not proceed, and if it does go ahead, why it must be disrupted using the strongest means possible. There has been criticism of the anti-tour movement for its stand, and some people have suggested that politics should stay out of sport. Your movement is keen to ensure all branches give the same reasons for opposing the tour when questioned by the media. Your task is to: outline at least three main reasons why your movement believes this tour must not go ahead outline what your movement would say in response to the statement that sport and politics shouldn't mix and to accusations that you are denying New Zealanders their right to watch a game of rugby.