THE 1981 TOUR
The Tour went ahead as planned by the New Zealand Rugby Union, with the Springboks touching down at Auckland Airport before receiving an official welcome in Gisborne on the 19th of July 1981. The buildup of tension and heated debate that had raged across the country in previous months manifested itself into a unified, organised and highly vocal protest movement that staged demonstrations and disruptions on a scale not seen before by New Zealanders alive at the time. As the Tour made its way through New Zealand, the protest movement gained publicity, followers and momentum, culminating on the 12th of September 1981 with the events of the final test at Eden Park in Auckland. Members of the anti-tour movement could be found throughout the country, many spread amongst smaller, local groups. Large-scale unification, the formation of coalitions and nationwide organisational bodies such as HART contributed to the rallying together of multitudes of supporters.
There were two main, overarching aims of nearly every organised anti-Tour protest: to prevent games from taking place, and to draw attention to the anti-Apartheid cause. Some groups had an additional agenda - such as that of the Patu Squad, based in Auckland and led by Maori activists, which placed added emphasis on issues of racism within New Zealand. Protests ranged from regular demonstrations and marches to the sabotage of sports grounds and pitch invasions during Springbok games, and were led by a number of groups, coalitions and individuals. The protest movement was shaken but not deterred by the efforts of Police and of pro-tour rugby supporters, but these opposing groups played a major part in influencing the nature of the dissent and of the extent to which protest became violent.
There were two main, overarching aims of nearly every organised anti-Tour protest: to prevent games from taking place, and to draw attention to the anti-Apartheid cause. Some groups had an additional agenda - such as that of the Patu Squad, based in Auckland and led by Maori activists, which placed added emphasis on issues of racism within New Zealand. Protests ranged from regular demonstrations and marches to the sabotage of sports grounds and pitch invasions during Springbok games, and were led by a number of groups, coalitions and individuals. The protest movement was shaken but not deterred by the efforts of Police and of pro-tour rugby supporters, but these opposing groups played a major part in influencing the nature of the dissent and of the extent to which protest became violent.
More about the Tour protest and protestors can be found on the following sub-pages:
- PROTEST ACTION
- KEY FIGURES
- OPPOSITION TO THE PROTEST
- PROTEST ACTION
- KEY FIGURES
- OPPOSITION TO THE PROTEST