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Seven years and one stomach-stapling operation after entering Parliament in 1977, David Lange became PM at the age of 41.
350 anti-tour demonstrators invaded Hamilton’s Rugby Park, forcing the abandonment of the Springboks–Waikato match. Rugby supporters pelted the protesters with bottles and scuffles broke out.
Film: game cancelled in Hamilton, 1981 Springbok tourTour diary - 1981 Springbok tour
1 August 1987 Maori becomes official language
2 August 1983 Protest as USS Texas visits Auckland
3 August 1941 Finnish barque Pamir seized as war prize
4 August 1965 Cook Islands achieve self-government
5 August 1988 Cartwright Report condemns cervical cancer treatment
6 August 1936 Lovelock wins 1500-m gold at Berlin
7 August 1908 First train runs length of main trunk line