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sIt was inevitable that such a scene of civil disturbance would elicit a political and social awakening from the everyday people of New Zealand. Never before had there been a protest event that so deeply affected the lives and opinions of regular citizens - New Zealanders as a whole experienced a period of growth and maturation in the political, social and economic sense. As a result of the 1981 Springbok Tour, people had a greater awareness of the impact of protest events, and activism increased during the 1980s and 1990s in regards to issues such as nuclear testing, homosexuality, and Maori nationalism. New Zealanders began to assess the presence and impact of racism on our own society, and a number of race-related historical grievances were brought to light in the aftermath of the Tour. The role of law enforcement and the perception of police activity also changed within New Zealand, and as a result of the Tour many former protesters resented the level of state control that was exerted on the suburban streets of New Zealand during 1981. Politically, the Muldoon government enjoyed a second term in office after gaining support in the marginal rural areas before a more liberal Labour government came to power in 1984.
Internationally, the anti-Apartheid movement was energised by the events of the Springbok Tour. Nelson Mandela himself recalled the optimism that was felt by him and others on Robben Island when they heard the Hamilton game had been called off. Sporting restrictions are thought by historians to be some of the most hard-hitting sanctions imposed on South Africa, as they interfered in the daily life and entertainment of regular white South African citizens. Eventually, in 1994, the first democratic elections were held in the former Apartheid state.