Background to the tour
The
1981 Springbok Tour was one of the most polarizing events in New Zealand’s
history. It caused controversy amongst New Zealand society and it was the
largest civil dispute seen since the 1951 Waterfront Strike. What caused the
protest to stop the tour was the fact that South Africa was an apartheid
country and other countries were strongly discouraged to have sporting contact
with them, and for New Zealand to accept a tour caused wide spread havoc
amongst the country. The tour had caused families to split and generally
arguments ended friendships. For New Zealand the nation’s status in the world
had been deeply damaged. What followed was 56 days of chaos for the society of
New Zealand.
The New Zealand Public during those 56 days, were completely split between town and country. This was due to the many beliefs and differences in which occurred during the tour; people were either pro-tour or anti-tour. The apartheid - regime in South Africa was the main reason that the protest occurred as New Zealander's were against it and had a strong belief that all people deserved equality and that the racist government in South Africa
The New Zealand Public during those 56 days, were completely split between town and country. This was due to the many beliefs and differences in which occurred during the tour; people were either pro-tour or anti-tour. The apartheid - regime in South Africa was the main reason that the protest occurred as New Zealander's were against it and had a strong belief that all people deserved equality and that the racist government in South Africa