Pages tagged with: south africa

For 56 days in July, August and September 1981, New Zealanders were divided against each other in the largest civil disturbance seen since the 1951 waterfront dispute. The cause of this was the visit of the South African rugby team – the Springboks.

The mid-century decades brought more mass participation in sport, the consolidation of many national competitions, and greater achievement at international level.

The South African War of 1899-1902, often called the Boer War (sometimes the Second Boer War), was the first overseas conflict to involve New Zealand

Since rugby went professional in 1995 countries like Australia, England and France have challenged New Zealand and South Africa's claims to be the two powerhouses of world rugby.

South Africa's apartheid policies and attitudes created obvious problems for New Zealand rugby, given the prominence of Māori in the sport.

Keeping sport and politics separate was becoming increasingly difficult. In July 1969 HART (Halt All Racist Tours) was founded by University of Auckland students with the specific aim of opposing sporting contact with South Africa.

The All Blacks accepted an invitation to tour South Africa in 1976, when world attention was firmly fixed on the republic because of the Soweto riots.

The tour supporters were determined that the first Springbok visit to New Zealand since 1965 would not be spoiled. The anti-tour movement was equally determined to show its opposition to it.

Itinerary of the 1981 tour by the Springbok rugby team

In Hamilton the protestors occupying the pitch had chanted 'The whole world is watching'. The same applied to New Zealand as a nation. Some believed the tour was an opportunity to address racism in New Zealand and show solidarity with the oppressed black majority in South Africa.

Although the call for 'No Maori – No Tour' gained momentum after 1960, how South Africa selected its team was widely regarded as its business.

Facts and stats about South Africa and the First World War.

Anti-apartheid demonstrators protest about an All Black rugby tour to South Africa, 1970

Demonstrators campaigning to end diplomatic and consular ties with South Africa protesting outside the South African Consulate, 1977

Map of the Union of South Africa at the time it entered the First World War

Souvenir programme for the rugby game between Wanganui-King Country and the South African Springboks played on 8 August 1956.

Souvenir programme for the rugby game between Hawke's Bay and the 1956 Springboks

Souvenir programme for the rugby match between South Africa and NZ Māori on 28 August 1965

A South African nurse places a wreath on the grave of her brother, Private D.B.H. Fynn of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment, at Delville Wood, 17 February 1918.

Premier R.J. Seddon asked Parliament to approve an offer to the British government of a contingent of mounted rifles. Amid emotional scenes, the proposition was overwhelmingly endorsed - only five members voted against it.