Birth Place
Robert
Muldoon served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as
leader of the governing National Party. As Prime Minister of New Zealand he refused
to intervene in the Springbok Tour, strongly reiterating the idea that sports
and politics shouldn't mix; thus he refused to also intervene in the 1976 All Black's tour of South Africa amidst the height of international speculation of the apartheid-ruled regime in South Africa. The international community looked down upon New Zealand, especially Muldoon as he refused to co-operate the Gleneagles Agreement in which he signed which clearly discourages sporting contact with South Africa in terms of sending a message that the international community did not support nor agree with their regime. Thus when Muldoon did not intervene, this lead to protest in New Zealand by the HART (halt all racist tours) led by John Minto.