springbok tour

Day of Rage

Donna1 Comment
Day of Rage
Day of Rage

30 years ago today … Saturday, 12 September 1981 was the day of the third and final test between the Springboks and the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland.

It was also the anniversary of the murder in South Africa in 1977 of Steve Biko, an anti-apartheid activist who died after being interrogated by police under South Africa’s anti-terrorism laws.

More information on the Springbok Tour:

Anti Tour Rally

DonnaLeave a comment
Anti Tour Rally
Anti Tour Rally

30 years ago today … Saturday 29 August 1981.

This rally coincided with the second test between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

It took place in Wellington at Athletic Park.

More information on the Springbok Tour:

They’ve brought their National Sport with them

DonnaLeave a comment
They've brought their National Sport with them.
They've brought their National Sport with them.

30 years ago today … Saturday 15 August 1981.

This rally coincided with the first test between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

It took place in Christchurch at Lancaster Park (later renamed Jade Stadium, and now the AMI Stadium).

More information on the Springbok Tour:

Limits of protest

DonnaLeave a comment
Limits of Protest

30 years ago today … 31 July 1981.
Every Friday over the winter, the Canterbury branch of the Workers’ Educational Association held a forum on a topic of national or local interest. The topic was introduced by an informed speaker and then opened up for general discussion.

More information on the Springbok Tour:

National Day of Shame

DonnaLeave a comment
July 22 National Day of shame

30 years ago today … Wednesday 22 July 1981, named the “National Day of Shame”, was the day of the first match of the Springbok tour, against Poverty Bay in Gisborne.

More information on the Springbok Tour:

Stop the Tour

Donna5 Comments
The Govt. Must Act Now. Stop the Tour. Rally Friday July 3rd 1981
The Govt. Must Act Now. Stop the Tour. Rally Friday July 3rd. 1981

30 years ago, New Zealand was a nation of protest.

The Springbok – the South African rugby team – were coming to tour New Zealand. Many Kiwis did not want the All Blacks to play rugby against a regime that practiced apartheid. People in their droves turned out to protest.

One of the rallies took place on Friday 3 July 1981,  in Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Its intention was to try to stop the tour from going ahead. It was followed by a mass sit-in in Latimer Square where a “tent-city” was erected.

More information on the Springbok Tour:

Heritage isn’t just dusty ornaments and yellowing photos of bearded gents …

DonnaLeave a comment

… it’s the things we remember, the times that shape us. And one of my favourite things in our digital collection is only 29 years old – our 1981 Springbok Tour posters.

As we head towards the Rugby World Cup next year, it’s a good time to think again about ‘The Tour’. Rugby came to mean so much more than kicking a ball about. Back in 1981, New Zealand was a nation divided. Should politics and sports mix? Can we play rugby against a nation that practices apartheid? Civil disturbances shook the country as the South African rugby team toured.

I was a school kid  in Gore, and can remember getting into feisty arguments with pro-Tour kids and my parents going to protests.

These posters are our heritage.