Key People and Groups
John Minto:
John Minto played a prominent role in the 1981 Springbok tour protests; being one of the men that formed the important anti-tour groups 'Halt All Racist Tours' or HART. John Minto was responsible for leading and being heavily involved in protests and marches throughout the main centres of New Zealand, including being heavily assaulted at Rugby Park in Hamilton at one of the Springbok games. Minto has continued to remain active in several NZ protests, such as the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raid protests.
John Minto played a prominent role in the 1981 Springbok tour protests; being one of the men that formed the important anti-tour groups 'Halt All Racist Tours' or HART. John Minto was responsible for leading and being heavily involved in protests and marches throughout the main centres of New Zealand, including being heavily assaulted at Rugby Park in Hamilton at one of the Springbok games. Minto has continued to remain active in several NZ protests, such as the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raid protests.
Robert Muldoon was prime Minister of the New Zealand during the Springbok Tour in 1981. He stated that 'politics should stay out of sport' and gave the tour the go ahead, ignoring international pressure and the Gleneagles agreement of 1977.
He was a strong pro-tour supporter, and refused to intervene with the invitation to the Springboks, despite much aggression from the public and other countries. Because the 1981 Springbok tour went ahead, Muldoon successfully broke the agreement of Gleneagles. Muldoon lost the 1984 election to David Lange.
He was a strong pro-tour supporter, and refused to intervene with the invitation to the Springboks, despite much aggression from the public and other countries. Because the 1981 Springbok tour went ahead, Muldoon successfully broke the agreement of Gleneagles. Muldoon lost the 1984 election to David Lange.
Norman Kirk:
Elected Prime Minister in 1972, and was in parliament until his death in 1974. Kirk was the Prime Minister before Robert Muldoon, and is responsible for postponing of the 1973 Springbok tour as he knew what the outcome would be like by the public and internationally. It can be said that because of this decision of postponing the tour, Kirk and his labour government lost a vast majority of the rugby and country voters, leading to a landslide victory by Robert Muldoon in the 1975 election.
Elected Prime Minister in 1972, and was in parliament until his death in 1974. Kirk was the Prime Minister before Robert Muldoon, and is responsible for postponing of the 1973 Springbok tour as he knew what the outcome would be like by the public and internationally. It can be said that because of this decision of postponing the tour, Kirk and his labour government lost a vast majority of the rugby and country voters, leading to a landslide victory by Robert Muldoon in the 1975 election.
Ron Don and the NZRFU:
Ron Don was chairman of the Rugby Union at the time of the 1981 Springbok Tour Ron was a strong pro-tour supporter, and was adamant that the 1981 Springbok tour should go on. He was responsible for consistently insulting the anti-tour movement; claiming many in the protest ranks were involved solely for a scrap with the police, not to make a stand against apartheid. Ron Don and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, now known as the New Zealand Rugby Union, was a key figure and group as it was one of leading forces to the tour; inviting South African Springboks to New Zealand.
Ron Don was chairman of the Rugby Union at the time of the 1981 Springbok Tour Ron was a strong pro-tour supporter, and was adamant that the 1981 Springbok tour should go on. He was responsible for consistently insulting the anti-tour movement; claiming many in the protest ranks were involved solely for a scrap with the police, not to make a stand against apartheid. Ron Don and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, now known as the New Zealand Rugby Union, was a key figure and group as it was one of leading forces to the tour; inviting South African Springboks to New Zealand.