Significant impact on the lives of New Zealanders
There were a range of consequences that had an impact on the lives of New Zealanders throughout the country, with each having their own significant impact on their lives socially, economically and politically.
A significant and most clear consequences of the 1981 Springbok tour was the manner in which New Zealand public had been divided. Before the Springboks were even welcomed into New Zealand, Kiwi's never really had the same perspective towards the tour. This left tensions running high in New Zealand's cities, towns and even family living rooms. The high tensions could be seen in such scenes such as in the small town of Eltham, where 50 lonely protesters were rained down upon by eggs and bottles as they marched up the street on a friday night. The result of this early split ended in series of violent clashes between the two opposing perspectives, on and off the field. New Zealand has had a big and successful history with the sport of Rugby, but this tour and the protests that came with it stemmed out and represented something much bigger.
Society also split between town folk and countrymen; with awareness growing about the bigger picture of the tour in cities and large towns, many people held the anti-tour perspective and felt as if their actions would bring positive change on a international scale. Farmers and other countrymen had a undying passion for rugby, and felt it was a part of their everyday lives. These different thoughts between the two different perspectives resulted in a great tear in New Zealand's nationwide community.
The protests in order to prevent the tour because of the racial issues that it brought to the nation of New Zealand made Maori people feel as if they had been left out. This is the second social consequence to the tour, the actions by the Maori.Even without the Apartheid regime, New Zealand did have a poor treatment of Maori communities prior to the tour, and this disappointed the Maori. This led Maori to aim to protest for the improvement of their own rights. Maori led several marches and demonstrations in an attempt to drive for their cause, this resulted in such events such as the 1984 Te Hikoi march. In a more long-term sense, the Springbok tour had a successful effect in the improvement of relations with Maori, as John Minto in 4th July 2006 states: 'I think the most important impact of the tour in New Zealand was to stimulate the whole debate about racism and about the place of Maori in our community.' You can watch this video here.
A significant and most clear consequences of the 1981 Springbok tour was the manner in which New Zealand public had been divided. Before the Springboks were even welcomed into New Zealand, Kiwi's never really had the same perspective towards the tour. This left tensions running high in New Zealand's cities, towns and even family living rooms. The high tensions could be seen in such scenes such as in the small town of Eltham, where 50 lonely protesters were rained down upon by eggs and bottles as they marched up the street on a friday night. The result of this early split ended in series of violent clashes between the two opposing perspectives, on and off the field. New Zealand has had a big and successful history with the sport of Rugby, but this tour and the protests that came with it stemmed out and represented something much bigger.
Society also split between town folk and countrymen; with awareness growing about the bigger picture of the tour in cities and large towns, many people held the anti-tour perspective and felt as if their actions would bring positive change on a international scale. Farmers and other countrymen had a undying passion for rugby, and felt it was a part of their everyday lives. These different thoughts between the two different perspectives resulted in a great tear in New Zealand's nationwide community.
The protests in order to prevent the tour because of the racial issues that it brought to the nation of New Zealand made Maori people feel as if they had been left out. This is the second social consequence to the tour, the actions by the Maori.Even without the Apartheid regime, New Zealand did have a poor treatment of Maori communities prior to the tour, and this disappointed the Maori. This led Maori to aim to protest for the improvement of their own rights. Maori led several marches and demonstrations in an attempt to drive for their cause, this resulted in such events such as the 1984 Te Hikoi march. In a more long-term sense, the Springbok tour had a successful effect in the improvement of relations with Maori, as John Minto in 4th July 2006 states: 'I think the most important impact of the tour in New Zealand was to stimulate the whole debate about racism and about the place of Maori in our community.' You can watch this video here.
The most significant political cause of the 1981 Springbok tour was the election of David Lange in 1984.
David Muldoon used the postponement of the 1973 Springbok tour as a political weapon for his rise to Prime Minister. By promising the bulk of the voters, which were in fact rugby fans, Muldoon had received a strong upper hand against Norman Kirk. However, this support by the country and rugby fans would only just push him through the 1981 election. Eventually, the support died down, and allowed David Lange of the Labour Party to take over after the success in the 1984 elections. The successful election for David Lange was a significant long-term political cause as it would have an extreme effect on the future lives of New Zealanders and would lead to what New Zealand has become today. Lange was aiming for a more just society, which gave him tremendous support for voters such as the protesters in 1981, leading to change in law for several key legislations that would make New Zealand stand out on a global stage. These changes led to New Zealand becoming one of the first nations to bar nuclear power and weapons from our waters and land, and the enabling of the homosexual law reform, both of which would be described as the image that New Zealand wanted.
David Muldoon used the postponement of the 1973 Springbok tour as a political weapon for his rise to Prime Minister. By promising the bulk of the voters, which were in fact rugby fans, Muldoon had received a strong upper hand against Norman Kirk. However, this support by the country and rugby fans would only just push him through the 1981 election. Eventually, the support died down, and allowed David Lange of the Labour Party to take over after the success in the 1984 elections. The successful election for David Lange was a significant long-term political cause as it would have an extreme effect on the future lives of New Zealanders and would lead to what New Zealand has become today. Lange was aiming for a more just society, which gave him tremendous support for voters such as the protesters in 1981, leading to change in law for several key legislations that would make New Zealand stand out on a global stage. These changes led to New Zealand becoming one of the first nations to bar nuclear power and weapons from our waters and land, and the enabling of the homosexual law reform, both of which would be described as the image that New Zealand wanted.
Key Historical Ideas
-1981 Springbok tour and the protests that occurred with it, brought a social split in the community within New Zealand, leading to violent outbursts nationwide between town and country.
-Maori felt as if they had been forgotten, which drove them to push for improved rights and for a more important place in New Zealand's community.
-1981 tour had a positive improvement as to how the New Zealand community would interact with the Maori community in the future.
-The new government of 1984, led by David Lange brought outstanding changes to New Zealand; creating the important laws and legislations that created us a special identity within the global community.
-Maori felt as if they had been forgotten, which drove them to push for improved rights and for a more important place in New Zealand's community.
-1981 tour had a positive improvement as to how the New Zealand community would interact with the Maori community in the future.
-The new government of 1984, led by David Lange brought outstanding changes to New Zealand; creating the important laws and legislations that created us a special identity within the global community.