CAUSES
There are a number of factors that could be considered 'causes' of the Anti Sprinkbok Tour movement of the 1980s, some of them long term causes dating back several decades. Each 'cause' attracted more protesters both for and against the tour. Not every 'cause' was relevant to everyone who participated in the movement but they were all contributing factors to the overall effect.
APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA
The anti-tour movement was fuelled by the introduction of the extreme apartheid policy in South Africa in the 1960s. During this time, world attention was firmly fixed on the republic because of the Soweto uprisings. New Zealanders at this time were desperately trying to fight the repression of coloured people with the Soweto uprisings fresh in everyone's mind worldwide. The Soweto uprisings saw hundreds killed as the authorities ruthlessly suppressed protests. South African security forces gunned down black school children in the streets for protesting against discriminatory schooling. Their apartheid system was extremely unpopular internationally and other nations, particularly those in the commonwealth wanted to cut ties with South Africa until they were treating black people decently.
South Africa was fighting a war in Namibia and was projecting its war into the “frontline states” of Angola and Mozambique with virtual impunity, without any form of significant punishment or being reprimanded. South African resistance was engaging in mass strikes, popular mass protest and a fairly limited armed struggle, primarily through the medium of the African National Congress’s (ANC) Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).
Many New Zealanders did not want to be associated with a country in so much turmoil and with so much internal separatism and this fuelled the anti-tour argument. It was seen as wrong, as condoning what they were doing in their own country and as demeaning for the Maori people of New Zealand's society.
South Africa was fighting a war in Namibia and was projecting its war into the “frontline states” of Angola and Mozambique with virtual impunity, without any form of significant punishment or being reprimanded. South African resistance was engaging in mass strikes, popular mass protest and a fairly limited armed struggle, primarily through the medium of the African National Congress’s (ANC) Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).
Many New Zealanders did not want to be associated with a country in so much turmoil and with so much internal separatism and this fuelled the anti-tour argument. It was seen as wrong, as condoning what they were doing in their own country and as demeaning for the Maori people of New Zealand's society.
THE TRADITION OF RUGBY RIVALRY
There are few games bigger than the All Blacks versus the Springboks, despite the best efforts of nations such as England and France to compete. Games between these two nations have become a legacy, and a source of national heroes and villains. The first official series, a visit by South Africa in 1921, ended in a tie when the deciding test at Wellington’s Athletic Park was drawn 0–0. In 1928 the All Blacks toured South Africa, and over the course of three months they played 22 matches, winning 16. The test series was tied 2–2, and thus a great rivalry was born.
Due to South Africa's racial separatism, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) chose not to select Maori for tours to South Africa until 1970. In 1928 this meant leaving players like the legendary George Nēpia behind. Over the next few decades, the NZRFU continued to organise sporting fixtures with South Africa, ignoring the racism and international campaigns trying to overthrow the white supremacy.
It wasn't until the 1960's when “No Maoris No Tour” campaigns arose, in response to the South African demand that teams touring South Africa 'respect' South Africa’s apartheid system and select only white players for their national squads. Maori people were granted an 'honorary white' status, allowing them to use the same facilities as the rest of the All Blacks team, a privilege they would otherwise have been denied. New Zealand boycotters argued that 'fixes' for the rugby problems would not be sufficient to lift the boycott since this was not really about sport, but against the apartheid system as a whole.Prime Minister Keith Holyoake’s statement that ‘in this country we are one people’ was translated into practice when a proposed 1967 tour to South Africa was cancelled.
Despite all other influences on the anti tour movement, the opposition stemmed from opinions of small time New Zealanders who believed that it was wrong for our country to condone the treatment of the Maori people, or any coloured people, as inferior.
Due to South Africa's racial separatism, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) chose not to select Maori for tours to South Africa until 1970. In 1928 this meant leaving players like the legendary George Nēpia behind. Over the next few decades, the NZRFU continued to organise sporting fixtures with South Africa, ignoring the racism and international campaigns trying to overthrow the white supremacy.
It wasn't until the 1960's when “No Maoris No Tour” campaigns arose, in response to the South African demand that teams touring South Africa 'respect' South Africa’s apartheid system and select only white players for their national squads. Maori people were granted an 'honorary white' status, allowing them to use the same facilities as the rest of the All Blacks team, a privilege they would otherwise have been denied. New Zealand boycotters argued that 'fixes' for the rugby problems would not be sufficient to lift the boycott since this was not really about sport, but against the apartheid system as a whole.Prime Minister Keith Holyoake’s statement that ‘in this country we are one people’ was translated into practice when a proposed 1967 tour to South Africa was cancelled.
Despite all other influences on the anti tour movement, the opposition stemmed from opinions of small time New Zealanders who believed that it was wrong for our country to condone the treatment of the Maori people, or any coloured people, as inferior.
THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST SEGREGATION
Internationally, the South African apartheid policy was deeply disapproved of. Both the United Nations and the commonwealth were implementing procedures wherever possible to discourage the South Africans from practicing this extreme racism, and promote equality. In 1968 the United Nations called for a sporting boycott as one way of putting pressure on the South African government by insisting that no one engages in any form of sporting competition with them until all players, black or white, can be treated equally. With rugby and cricket as the two main sports for white South Africans, the spotlight fell on New Zealand to make a considerable change.
The NZRFU ignored the United Nation's call for a boycott, although there was protest to allow the Maori players in the team to participate in the tour. 150,000 New Zealanders signed a petition against sending a race-based team, but the tour went ahead regardless. The All Blacks sent their Maori players, but not as a rebellious action as a result of the influence of international pressure; but more because they were allowed to due to Maori being granted an 'honorary white' status for the tour.
Under Robert Muldoon, New Zealand was not particularly following the international lead, as he believed that the government should not have any say on sporting matters; sports and politics should not mix. The All Blacks accepted an invitation to tour South Africa in 1976; a time when world attention was firmly fixed on South Africa following the Soweto riots. A tour under these conditions was not only intolerable to many New Zealanders but also attracted international condemnation.
The Commonwealth by this point had initiated a large international campaign to isolate South Africa and all its international dealings. There was a widely supported boycott of South African exports, a campaign to prevent trade with the Republic, and a sporting and cultural boycott. In 1977 the Commonwealth Heads of State made the Gleneagles Agreement. A unanimous ban on contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa. The New Zealand government's failure to comply with this agreement was a cause for civil unrest and protest.
The NZRFU ignored the United Nation's call for a boycott, although there was protest to allow the Maori players in the team to participate in the tour. 150,000 New Zealanders signed a petition against sending a race-based team, but the tour went ahead regardless. The All Blacks sent their Maori players, but not as a rebellious action as a result of the influence of international pressure; but more because they were allowed to due to Maori being granted an 'honorary white' status for the tour.
Under Robert Muldoon, New Zealand was not particularly following the international lead, as he believed that the government should not have any say on sporting matters; sports and politics should not mix. The All Blacks accepted an invitation to tour South Africa in 1976; a time when world attention was firmly fixed on South Africa following the Soweto riots. A tour under these conditions was not only intolerable to many New Zealanders but also attracted international condemnation.
The Commonwealth by this point had initiated a large international campaign to isolate South Africa and all its international dealings. There was a widely supported boycott of South African exports, a campaign to prevent trade with the Republic, and a sporting and cultural boycott. In 1977 the Commonwealth Heads of State made the Gleneagles Agreement. A unanimous ban on contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa. The New Zealand government's failure to comply with this agreement was a cause for civil unrest and protest.
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AND LEADERS AT THE TIME
Despite the public's best efforts, they can't force their opinion on those in charge of the Rugby Union.
One of the most significant causes of the events during the 1981 Springbok tour was the influence of the government during this time. The different political parties directly influenced decisions made around the communication and organisation of sporting fixtures with South Africa, and also people's views on the 1981 tour.
During Norman Kirk's (Labour) period as Prime Minister, ties with South Africa were severed, as he postponed the planned tour for 1973. However, when Robert Muldoon (National) was elected in 1975 this attitude changed entirely. Muldoon was pro-tour, with the mantra that politics and sport should be kept separate at all costs.
Muldoon ignored the unanimous Commonwealth Gleneagles Agreement, to not participate in any contact or competition with sportsmen from South Africa, declaring that New Zealand rugby tours were not his reponsibility, and these should be left to the NZRFU.
While New Zealand’s international reputation was damaged by the 1976 tour, Robert Muldoon maintained that a free and democratic country could not restrict the rights of its citizens to travel overseas. He continued to reiterate his belief that sports and politics should be kept separate.The NZRFU took advantage of Muldoon's unwillingness to interfere and in September 1980 invited the South Africans to tour the following year; and so the great protests began.
Read more about Kirk and Muldoon on the 'Key Individuals and Groups' page.
During Norman Kirk's (Labour) period as Prime Minister, ties with South Africa were severed, as he postponed the planned tour for 1973. However, when Robert Muldoon (National) was elected in 1975 this attitude changed entirely. Muldoon was pro-tour, with the mantra that politics and sport should be kept separate at all costs.
Muldoon ignored the unanimous Commonwealth Gleneagles Agreement, to not participate in any contact or competition with sportsmen from South Africa, declaring that New Zealand rugby tours were not his reponsibility, and these should be left to the NZRFU.
While New Zealand’s international reputation was damaged by the 1976 tour, Robert Muldoon maintained that a free and democratic country could not restrict the rights of its citizens to travel overseas. He continued to reiterate his belief that sports and politics should be kept separate.The NZRFU took advantage of Muldoon's unwillingness to interfere and in September 1980 invited the South Africans to tour the following year; and so the great protests began.
Read more about Kirk and Muldoon on the 'Key Individuals and Groups' page.