Anti-Tour Movement Actions
56 Days of Protest!
Actions were taken by anti-tour protesters had begun before the Springboks arrived in the country on 19th July 1981. Many people were dissatisfied with Muldoon's decision to 'keep politics out of sport'. Protesters had built up quite a stir in the main centres of New Zealand, Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Gisborne and Wellington, ranging from marches to full on intense pitch invasions and even fly-by's. These events had significant results, some resulting in widespread violence between anti-tour on one hand, and pro-tour and police on the other.
On the 19th of July, the touring Springboks were officially welcomed into the country. Protesters saw the visiting team into the country with a 2,000 strong crowd at the airport. Upon the plane landing on New Zealand soil, protesters cut the wire fence, separating them from the airport's tarmac, resulting in 12 protesters managing to enter the restricted area. The protesters looked to make a strong start on protesting from day one of the tour, and looked to carry it on throughout the full 56 days.
On the 19th of July, the touring Springboks were officially welcomed into the country. Protesters saw the visiting team into the country with a 2,000 strong crowd at the airport. Upon the plane landing on New Zealand soil, protesters cut the wire fence, separating them from the airport's tarmac, resulting in 12 protesters managing to enter the restricted area. The protesters looked to make a strong start on protesting from day one of the tour, and looked to carry it on throughout the full 56 days.
A very significant action was that of the test in Hamilton on 15th July 1981. Two marches had been carefully planned out to begin on two opposite sides of the city, and meet near Garden Place, where the main action would take place. Over 5,000 people gathered at Garden Place, and at around mid-day, started their march to Rugby Park.
A large group from this crowd, estimated 350, broke down the chain link fence (image left), chanting "the whole world is watching." The crowd flooded onto the field, releasing smoke bombs and making a racket. Police attempted to arrest these invaders, and managed to arrest 50 of them in an hour. However, many protesters remained firm on the field, chanting "Call off the game and we'll call off the protest!" The game was called off due to the disturbance by the protesters, rumoured that they were helped by Pat Mcquarrie, who stole a light aircraft and was reportedly heading for the stadium.
A large group from this crowd, estimated 350, broke down the chain link fence (image left), chanting "the whole world is watching." The crowd flooded onto the field, releasing smoke bombs and making a racket. Police attempted to arrest these invaders, and managed to arrest 50 of them in an hour. However, many protesters remained firm on the field, chanting "Call off the game and we'll call off the protest!" The game was called off due to the disturbance by the protesters, rumoured that they were helped by Pat Mcquarrie, who stole a light aircraft and was reportedly heading for the stadium.
On July 29 the Springboks took on Taranaki in New Plymouth, however, reports of strike action were called from Wellington on Molesworth St. A march was planned and was aimed to follow up through Molesworth Street, which gained support from nearly 2,000 protesters, but, police blocked their path and had no intention of letting up, which resorted in a polarising act of violence between anti-tour and the police. Police used their short batons in order to beat the protesting men and women, causing wide-spread panic and chaos. Because of the brutality of the police, plans on how to deal with protesters were changed, evolving from the short batons to the long batons, to attempt to force anti-tour followers back, rather than inflicting damage.
The outcome of this brutality led to resent from the anti-tour followers, and a heightened dissatisfaction with the tour as a whole, and following actions made by protesters would be different if the same outcome would occur.
The outcome of this brutality led to resent from the anti-tour followers, and a heightened dissatisfaction with the tour as a whole, and following actions made by protesters would be different if the same outcome would occur.
The games that followed had similar tactics and ideas of protests and even more passions behind the anti-tour protesters. A significant event was the third and final test between the All Blacks and Springboks on the 12th of September saw a more radical approach in a final attempt by the protesters to leave their mark, as it was the last chance. Marx Jones led the way in a Cessna aircraft, flying low over Eden park, dropping flares and dropped more than 58 flour bombs onto the field while the game was in play. The outcome of this act was the collision of one of the flour bombs on All Black prop Gary Knight in the head. (Image right)
The actions made by the anti-tour protesters, although received painful and harsh reactions by police and pro-tour fans, were noticed by pivotal anti-apartheid leaders in South Africa, such as Nelson Mandela, who praised the protesters who were opposing the apartheid and the tour, stating that "It was as if the sun had come out."
The actions made by the anti-tour protesters, although received painful and harsh reactions by police and pro-tour fans, were noticed by pivotal anti-apartheid leaders in South Africa, such as Nelson Mandela, who praised the protesters who were opposing the apartheid and the tour, stating that "It was as if the sun had come out."
Key Historical Ideas
-HART and the Anti-Tour movement responsible for attracting much support through organisation of marches and demonstrations.
-Large protests and demonstrations were evident throughout the main centres of New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington. Wellington having a significant result as to how police dealt with it.
-Police adopted heavy handed tactics, displayed in events such as Molesworth Street, to ensure that no more games would be cancelled as the Hamilton game did.
-Strong social divide between pro-tour and anti-tour evident as to how violence occurred between the two factions.
-Efforts by the Anti-Tour protesters were seen internationally, and being acknowledged by future key individuals such as Nelson Mandela.
-Large protests and demonstrations were evident throughout the main centres of New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington. Wellington having a significant result as to how police dealt with it.
-Police adopted heavy handed tactics, displayed in events such as Molesworth Street, to ensure that no more games would be cancelled as the Hamilton game did.
-Strong social divide between pro-tour and anti-tour evident as to how violence occurred between the two factions.
-Efforts by the Anti-Tour protesters were seen internationally, and being acknowledged by future key individuals such as Nelson Mandela.