1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States

thumb|right|Police officers guarding a barbed wire perimeter around [[Eden Park near Kingsland railway station]]

The 1981 South African rugby tour (known in New Zealand as the 1981 Springbok Tour, and in South Africa as the Rebel Tour) polarised opinions and inspired widespread protests across New Zealand. The controversy also extended to the United States, where the South African rugby team continued their tour after departing New Zealand.

The All Blacks toured South Africa in 1976 with the blessing of the newly elected New Zealand prime minister, Robert Muldoon. Protesters also attempted to disrupt television coverage of the first test by vandalising the Makara Hill microwave station in Wellington, which was responsible for relaying programming in and out of TV One's Avalon studios.

The 1976 tour contributed to the creation of the Gleneagles Agreement that was adopted by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1977, the Springboks' flights to and from New Zealand went via Los Angeles and Hawaii.

thumb|Anti-tour poster from Wellington

Despite pressure for the Muldoon government to cancel the tour, permission was granted for it, and the Springboks arrived in New Zealand on 19 July 1981. Since 1977 Muldoon's government had been a party to the Gleneagles Agreement, in which the countries of the Commonwealth accepted that it was:

<blockquote>the urgent duty of each of their Governments vigorously to combat the evil of apartheid by withholding any form of support for, and by taking every practical step to discourage contact or competition by their nationals with sporting organisations, teams or sportsmen from South Africa or from any other country where sports are organised on the basis of race, colour or ethnic origin.</blockquote>

Despite this, Muldoon also argued that New Zealand was a free and democratic country, and that "politics should stay out of sport". In the years following the Gleneagles Agreement, it seemed that New Zealand government members did not feel bound to the Gleneagles agreement, and disregarded it. However, some historians claim that, "the [Gleneagles] agreement remained vague enough to avoid the New Zealand government from having to use coercive powers such as withdrawing visas and passports." This means Muldoon's government technically was not bound to the agreement to the extent it outwardly appeared to the public. In addition to this, Ben Couch, who was the minister for Māori development at the time, stated, "I believe that the Gleneagles agreement has been forced upon us by people who do not have the same kind of democracy that we have."

Muldoon made some effort to discourage the tour and stated that he could see "nothing but trouble coming from this". "A Springbok tour would dash to the ground all that has been achieved as a result of international acceptance", wrote deputy Prime Minister Brian Talboys to the chairman of the NZRFU in a further attempt to discourage the tour, "[the tour] may affect the harmonious development of the Commonwealth and international sport". while other rugby supporters argued that if the tour were cancelled, there would be no reporting of the widespread criticism of apartheid in New Zealand in the controlled South African media.

Muldoon's critics felt that he allowed the tour in order for his National Party to secure the votes of rural and provincial conservatives in the general election later in the year, which National won. Along with Muldoon's policy of "leaving sporting contacts to sporting bodies", Muldoon also held the opinion that the disruption and division of New Zealand was not caused by the NZRFU, nor the Springboks, but the anti-tour protesters themselves. This argument was vehemently refuted by anti-tour voices, political activist Tom Newnham claimed that the government enabled "the greatest breakdown in law and order [New Zealand] has ever witnessed."

The ensuing public protests polarised New Zealand:

At Gisborne on the day before the match anti-tour activists, including Mereana Pitman, gained access to the pitch with a vehicle and tipped broken glass on the pitch. On 22 July, protesters managed to break through a fence, but quick action by spectators and ground security prevented the game being disrupted. Some protesters were beaten by police. From the very first match of the tour in Gisborne, protester tension levels ran high, and one protester, cartoonist Murray Ball, who was the son of an All Black, recalled that it "was strange for New Zealanders to feel so aggressive towards other New Zealanders" and that he was "scared as hell" when he came up against pro-tour defenders. Following reports that a stolen light plane (piloted by Pat McQuarrie) was approaching the stadium, police cancelled the match. Former police officer, Ross Meurant, who was pro-tour, said of the Molesworth St protest: "The protestors, who so obviously lacked self-control, were that evening privy to a classic display of discipline." This perspective of the police tactics was opposed by anti-tour activists, with claims that protesters were "savagely attacked by police", and that "police provoked violence".

The authorities strengthened security at public facilities after protesters disrupted telecommunications by damaging a waveguide on a microwave repeater, disrupting telephone and data services, though TV transmissions continued as they were carried by a separate waveguide on the tower. Army engineers were deployed, and the remaining grounds were surrounded with razor wire and shipping container barricades to decrease the chances of another pitch invasion. At Eden Park, an emergency escape route was constructed from the visitors' changing rooms for use if the stadium was overrun by protesters. Crowds of anti-tour protesters stood outside as the police were overwhelmed but the hundreds of police still managed to prevent the protesters from entering the stadium.

Christchurch

At Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on 15 August, They were quickly removed and forcibly ejected from the stadium by the police. Spectators were kept in the ground until the protesters dispersed.

Auckland: plane invasion

thumb|A [[smoke bomb at Eden Park]]

A low-flying Cessna 172 piloted by Marx Jones and Grant Cole disrupted the final test at Eden Park, Auckland, on 12 September "Patches" of criminal gangs, such as traditional rivals Black Power and the Mongrel Mob, were also evident. (Black Power were Muldoon supporters.) A group of peaceful protestors dressed as clowns were beaten with batons by police. The same day in Warkworth, Dunedin and Timaru protesters stormed the local TV transmitters and shut off coverage of the game.

The protest movement

Some of the protests had the dual purpose of linking racial discrimination against Māori in New Zealand to apartheid in South Africa. Some of the protesters, particularly young Māori, felt frustrated by the image of New Zealand as a paradise for racial unity. Political activist Tom Newnham's opinion echoes that of Minto's, albeit considerably more radical, stating that "we are basically the same as white South Africans, just as racist." Some of those protesting racism in South Africa felt inclined to reflect on the racial divide in their own country, before condemning another – part-Māori rugby spectator Kevin Taylor did not join the protests because he "wanted New Zealand to fix its own issues before New Zealanders started telling other countries how to fix their problems."

Tour of the United States

With the American leg of the tour following directly after the events of New Zealand, further protests and clashes with police were expected.

! style="width:135px;"| Date

! style="width:120px;"| Venue

! style="width:170px;"| Team

! style="width:90px;"| Winner and score

|Wed 22 July||Gisborne ||Poverty Bay || SA 6–24

|Sat 25 July||Hamilton ||Waikato ||cancelled

|Wed 29 July||New Plymouth ||Taranaki ||SA 9–34

|Sat 1 August||Palmerston North ||Manawatu ||SA 19–31

|Wed 5 August||Whanganui ||Wanganui ||SA 9–45

|Sat 8 August||Invercargill ||Southland ||SA 6–22

|Tue 11 August||Dunedin ||Otago ||SA 13–17

|Sat 15 August||Christchurch ||New Zealand (1st Test) ||NZ 14–9

|Tue 19 August||Timaru ||South Canterbury ||cancelled

|Sat 22 August||Nelson ||Nelson Bays ||SA 0–83

|Tue 25 August||Napier ||NZ Māori ||12–12

|Sat 29 August||Wellington |||New Zealand (2nd Test) ||SA 12–24

|Tue 2 September||Rotorua ||Bay of Plenty ||SA 24–29

|Sat 5 September||Auckland ||Auckland ||SA 12–39

|Tue 8 September||Whangārei ||North Auckland ||SA 10–19

|Sat 12 September||Auckland |||New Zealand (3rd Test) ||NZ 25–22

In United States

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Schedule of matches

! style="width:135px;"| Date

! style="width:120px;"| Venue

! style="width:170px;"| Team

! style="width:90px;"| Winner and score

|Sat 19 September||Racine, Wisconsin ||Midwest All Stars || SA 46–12

|Tue 22 September||Albany, New York ||Eastern All Stars || SA 41–0

|Fri 25 September||Glenville, New York|||| SA 38–7

Touring party

Manager: Johan Claassen
Assistant Manager: Abe Williams
Coach: Nelie Smith (Free State)
Captain: Wynand Claassen

{| class=wikitable

! Name !! Position !! Provincial Team !! Age<br>(in 1981) !! Height<br>(m)!! Weight<br>(kg) !!Occupation !! Caps

| Gysie Pienaar || Fullback || Free State || 26 || 1.75 ||85 ||Development Officer || 10

| Johan Heunis || Fullback || Northern Transvaal || 23 || 1.85 || 85|| Serviceman || –

| Edrich Krantz || Wing || Free State || 26 || 1.83||82|| Doctor || 2

| Ray Mordt || Wing || Transvaal || 24 || 1.81 ||89 || Representative || 10

| Darius Botha || Wing || Northern Transvaal || 26 || 1.83 || 93 || Pastor || –

| Gerrie Germishuys || Wing || Transvaal || 31 || 1.83 || 90 || Sports officer|| 17

| Carel du Plessis || Centre|| Western Province || 21 || 1.84 ||85|| Student || –

| Willie du Plessis || Centre || Western Province || 25 || 1.80 || 83|| Serviceman|| 9

| Errol Tobias || Centre || Boland|| 31 || 1.74 ||77|| Artisan|| 2

| Danie Gerber || Centre || Eastern Province || 26 || 1.85 ||90 || Clerk || 35

| Colin Beck || Flyhalf || Western Province || 22 || 1.80 ||82 || Student || –

| Naas Botha || Flyhalf || Northern Transvaal || 23 || 1.79 || 73|| Sports officer || 11

| Divan Serfontein || Scrumhalf || Western Province || 26 || 1.67 ||64|| Doctor || 9

| Barry Wolmarans || Scrumhalf || Free State || 32 || 1.65 || 68 ||Development Officer|| 1

| Wynand Claassen || No. 8 || || 30 || 1.85 ||90 || Architect|| 2

| Johan Marais || No. 8 || Northern Transvaal || 22 || 1.94 ||92 || Student || –

| Thys Burger || Flanker || Northern Transvaal || 26 || 1.95 ||92 || Sports Officer || 2

| Burger Geldenhuys || Flanker || Northern Transvaal || 25 || 1.88 ||91 || Student || –

| Eben Jansen || Flanker || Free State || 27 || 1.90 || 98|| Development Officer || –

| Rob Louw || Flanker || Western Province || 26 || 1.89 ||91|| Sports Officer || 11

| Theuns Stofberg || Lock || Northern Transvaal || 26 || 1.95 || 105|| Physiotherapist|| 15

| Div Visser || Lock ||Western Province || 23 || 1.95 ||109 || Air Force Technician|| –

| Hennie Bekker || Lock || Western Province || 28 || 2.00 ||113|| Sports officer || –

| Louis Moolman || Lock || Northern Transvaal || 30 || 1.95 ||111|| Farmer || 12

| Flippie van der Merwe || Prop || South Western Districts || 23 || 1.96 || 130|| Serviceman || –

| Ockie Oosthuizen || Prop || Northern Transvaal || 26 || 1.88 ||102 || Serviceman || 2

| Hempies du Toit || Prop || Western Province || 28 || 1.85 ||100 || Farmer || –

| Henning van Aswegen || Prop || Western Province || 26 || 1.86 || 95 || Businessman || –

| Willie Kahts || Hooker || Northern Transvaal || 34 || 1.80 || 91|| Teacher || 8

| Robert Cockrell || Hooker || Western Province || 31 || 1.83 ||90 || Representative || 7

| Shaun Povey || Hooker (tour replacement) || Western Province || 26 || 1.84 || 92 || Student || –

| Gawie Visagie || | Scrumhalf (tour replacement) || || 26 || 1.81 ||82 || Representative || –

Aftermath

The Muldoon government was re-elected in the 1981 election losing three seats to leave it with a majority of one.

The NZRFU constitution contained much high-minded wording about promoting the image of rugby and New Zealand, and generally being a benefit to society. In 1985, the NZRFU proposed an All Black tour of South Africa: two lawyers successfully sued it, claiming such a tour would breach its constitution. A High Court injunction by Justice Casey saw the tour cancelled.

Afterwards, the All Blacks would not tour South Africa until after the fall of the apartheid regime, with the next official tour in 1992. After the 1985 tour was cancelled, an unofficial tour took place a year later by a team that included 28 out of the 30 All Blacks selected for the 1985 tour, known as the New Zealand Cavaliers, a team that was often advertised in South Africa as the All Blacks and/or depicted with the Silver Fern.

After the All Blacks won the 1987 Rugby World Cup, rugby union was once again the dominant sport – in both spectator and participant numbers – in New Zealand.

In New Zealand culture

Prominent artist Ralph Hotere painted a Black Union Jack series of paintings in protest against the tour.
Merata Mita's documentary film Patu! (1983) tells the tale of the tour from a Māori perspective. Patu! was added to New Zealand's national UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2012.
Music popularly associated with the tour included the punk band RIOT 111, and the songs "Riot Squad" by the Newmatics and "There Is No Depression in New Zealand" by Blam Blam Blam.
Ross Meurant, commander of the police "Red Squad", published Red Squad Story in 1982, giving a conservative view.
The TVNZ 1980s police drama Mortimer's Patch included a flashback episode of the (younger) main character's tour police duties
In 1984 Geoff Chapple wrote the book 1981: The Tour, chronicling the events from the protesters' perspective.
In 1999 Glenn Wood's biography Cop Out covered the tour from the perspective of a frontline policeman.
David Hill's book The Name of the Game is the story of a schoolboy's personal struggles during the tour.
Tom Newnham's book By Batons And Barbed Wire is one of the largest collections of photos and general information of the protest movement during the tour. (hardback). (paperback)
The documentary 1981: A Country at War chronicled the tour from various perspectives.
Te Papa has objects related to the tour including images, helmets and an entrance ticket. The exhibition Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa has a section about the tour.
Rage, a dramatisation of the tour by Tom Scott, was filmed in mid-2011 and was broadcast on TV One on 4 September 2011.
The Engine Room, a play by Ralph McCubbin Howell, opened at BATS Theatre in Wellington on 27 September 2011. It contrasts the stories and viewpoints of John Key and Helen Clark during the tour and the 2008 general election.
The second series of the television show Westside takes place during the events of the tour and portrays the main characters' involvement in several of the major incidents.
Uproar, a 2023 New Zealand coming-of-age comedy-drama film. In 1981, relates the story of a 17-year-old boy who supports the 1981 Springboks tour is drawn into political activism to stand up for himself, his family and his future.

Notes and references

</references>

Bibliography

External links

Posters at Christchurch City Libraries
Images of the events surrounding the Springbok Tour in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Online account
A time line and references
The 1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 Springbok Tour, including history, images and video (NZHistory)
Letters solicited from the New Zealand public after the 1981 Springbok Tour