Springbok Tour
The 1981 springbok tour.
Introduction to the tour
The springbok tour of 1981 will always be remembered throughout New Zealand’s history as it divided the nation in two. Half just saw it as a game while the other half saw it as supporting racism. This caused an huge uproar among many new Zealanders during the 56 days in July, August and September that the springboks toured with over 150,000 people taking to the streets of New Zealand; in their bid to stop the apartheid policies in South Africa. The tour of 1981 brought a huge change in New Zealand and affected many as the conflict and confrontation that occurred during this tour changed New Zealand forever.
Background to the tour
Prior to the springbok tour of 1981, New Zealand and South Africa had always had a long tradition of intense and friendly sporting rivalry when it came to the Springboks versing New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks. In South Africa racism had been written into the laws of the country (the apartheid laws) and under them, black South Africans (84% of the population) suffered terribly at the hands of the white minority. Blacks were disadvantaged in education, health and employment, a black worker on average got less than one tenth of the wages that a white workers would get. One year in South Africa, 100,000 black children died due to starvation while the white government exported food overseas and black South Africans weren’t allowed to vote in the South African government. Between the 1940s to the 1960s, the South African apartheid policies had an impact on team selection for the All Blacks and the selectors were forced to consider the players more on their race rather than their ability. When the tour of 1960 occurred, it caused uproar among many new Zealanders for the fact that no players of Māori descent were selected. The decision to comply with South Africa’s strict apartheid policies by not selecting Māori players caused outrage. Using slogans like ‘No Maoris
Introduction to the tour
The springbok tour of 1981 will always be remembered throughout New Zealand’s history as it divided the nation in two. Half just saw it as a game while the other half saw it as supporting racism. This caused an huge uproar among many new Zealanders during the 56 days in July, August and September that the springboks toured with over 150,000 people taking to the streets of New Zealand; in their bid to stop the apartheid policies in South Africa. The tour of 1981 brought a huge change in New Zealand and affected many as the conflict and confrontation that occurred during this tour changed New Zealand forever.
Background to the tour
Prior to the springbok tour of 1981, New Zealand and South Africa had always had a long tradition of intense and friendly sporting rivalry when it came to the Springboks versing New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks. In South Africa racism had been written into the laws of the country (the apartheid laws) and under them, black South Africans (84% of the population) suffered terribly at the hands of the white minority. Blacks were disadvantaged in education, health and employment, a black worker on average got less than one tenth of the wages that a white workers would get. One year in South Africa, 100,000 black children died due to starvation while the white government exported food overseas and black South Africans weren’t allowed to vote in the South African government. Between the 1940s to the 1960s, the South African apartheid policies had an impact on team selection for the All Blacks and the selectors were forced to consider the players more on their race rather than their ability. When the tour of 1960 occurred, it caused uproar among many new Zealanders for the fact that no players of Māori descent were selected. The decision to comply with South Africa’s strict apartheid policies by not selecting Māori players caused outrage. Using slogans like ‘No Maoris