There was a history of rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks as the two powerhouses of rugby.
Rugby was part of New Zealand's national identity while also being the most significant international sporting contact for South Africans. Since the first official series in 1921, the two teams have often competed against each other. However, controversies began to arise when the policy of apartheid created issues in New Zealand who had many Maori players in the All Blacks team.
Until 1970, New Zealand had a chosen a rugby team to tour South Africa on the basis of race. As a result, approximately 150,000 New Zealanders signed a petition before the 1960 tour, against sending a team based on race. As seen in the photo above, there was a policy of "No Maoris - No Tour." The tour was not stopped regardless. However the proposed tour in 1967 to South Africa was cancelled. In 1968 the United Nations took action and put pressure on the South African government. They did this by calling for a sporting boycott, thus in 1970 the All Blacks sent a multiracial team as the South African government allowed the Maori members to take part as "honorary whites."
This tour provoked widespread protests. In the New Zealand Listener Alexander McLeod wrote:
Rugby was part of New Zealand's national identity while also being the most significant international sporting contact for South Africans. Since the first official series in 1921, the two teams have often competed against each other. However, controversies began to arise when the policy of apartheid created issues in New Zealand who had many Maori players in the All Blacks team.
Until 1970, New Zealand had a chosen a rugby team to tour South Africa on the basis of race. As a result, approximately 150,000 New Zealanders signed a petition before the 1960 tour, against sending a team based on race. As seen in the photo above, there was a policy of "No Maoris - No Tour." The tour was not stopped regardless. However the proposed tour in 1967 to South Africa was cancelled. In 1968 the United Nations took action and put pressure on the South African government. They did this by calling for a sporting boycott, thus in 1970 the All Blacks sent a multiracial team as the South African government allowed the Maori members to take part as "honorary whites."
This tour provoked widespread protests. In the New Zealand Listener Alexander McLeod wrote:
The controversy has divided religious groups, split families, provoked violence and inspired arson. The strains within New Zealand society either created or brought or brought to the surface by the decision to tour Sotuh Africa are not a kind that responsible, intelligent people would ignore, but the tour's promoters and supporters have ignored them without apparent qualms...
This controversy has demonstrated that New Zealanders are too keen on rugby for their own good. It has shown that we cannot or will not face the unfortunate but inescapable fact that race is not a great issue affecting world politics.
Further action was carried out by the Prime Minister at the time, Norman Kirk, who made the decision to cancel the 1973 tour.
The next election was to be held in 1972 but despite promises that he would not interfere with the tour, Kirk stopped the tour after he was elected. The police and military had advised Kirk that their combined forces may not be able to stop the civil disorder and violence that could arise. The pressure increased as at the United Nations General Assembly, members were asked to stop sporting contacts with South Africa. Many African countries also stated they would boycott the 1974 Commonwealth Games to be held in Christchurch if the tour proceeded. The National Party was unhappy with Kirk's decision. The Auckland Star published on 16 October 1975 quoted Robert Muldoon, leader of the National Party who said: |
A National Government would welcome a Springbok team to New Zealand, even if there were threats of violence and civil strife... I believe sporting contacts will be one of six major issues of the election campaign... THis is one issue on which people will change their vote.
At the next elections held in 1975, the National Party won, with Robert Muldoon becoming the new Prime Minister of New Zealand. They were determined to stand by their election promise which was to keep politics out of sport which a large number of other countries found impossible. Under Muldoon, a tour went ahead in 1976. Consequentially, 21 black African countries decided to boycott the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics because New Zealand would be participating.
The Commonwealth countries unanimously agreed to draw up the Gleneagles Agreement in 1977 which opposed apartheid.
This agreement also supported the boycotting of South Africa. The countries that signed were obliged to discourage contacts with South Africa and was expected to cause sporting contacts to discontinue with South Africa until apartheid was no longer a regime. The agreement required that each Commonwealth government was responsible for taking action in accordance to its own laws. New Zealand's later actions were clearly against the Commonwealth, upsetting many nations.
This agreement also supported the boycotting of South Africa. The countries that signed were obliged to discourage contacts with South Africa and was expected to cause sporting contacts to discontinue with South Africa until apartheid was no longer a regime. The agreement required that each Commonwealth government was responsible for taking action in accordance to its own laws. New Zealand's later actions were clearly against the Commonwealth, upsetting many nations.