How people have responded to and have been affected by this event
A divided nation
The 1981 Springbok tour had a huge impact on New Zealanders, because people had to choose sides pro-tour or anti-tour this caused great disagreements between families, friends and the nation itself. The tension and stress this caused was unbelievable, families could no longer live in the same household our function as a unit. One person stated in the book, The New Zealand experience: 100 vignettes, that; "As a family watching the evening news. Often one side would raise their voices in abuse and offensive name calling towards public figures. Later the abuse was turned in an indirect way on individual family members. This was done by blaming the chaos and disruption to rugby games in individual family members, their friends and associations." This shows that families that weren't even participating in events such as the protesting, were still very affected by the tour. Which split families and relationships throughout the nation, the tours impact went far beyond the rugby grounds. Communities which were considered peaceful and tolerant, disappeared with tension and abuse taking its place.
The 1981 Springbok tour had a huge impact on New Zealanders, because people had to choose sides pro-tour or anti-tour this caused great disagreements between families, friends and the nation itself. The tension and stress this caused was unbelievable, families could no longer live in the same household our function as a unit. One person stated in the book, The New Zealand experience: 100 vignettes, that; "As a family watching the evening news. Often one side would raise their voices in abuse and offensive name calling towards public figures. Later the abuse was turned in an indirect way on individual family members. This was done by blaming the chaos and disruption to rugby games in individual family members, their friends and associations." This shows that families that weren't even participating in events such as the protesting, were still very affected by the tour. Which split families and relationships throughout the nation, the tours impact went far beyond the rugby grounds. Communities which were considered peaceful and tolerant, disappeared with tension and abuse taking its place.
HART
The HART activist group played a huge role in the Springbok Tour, leading many protest during the 56 days of the tour and also planning many dangerous stunts to stop the test matches from continuing. But as these stunts injured rugby players the Rugby Union responded by arresting one of HART's leaders; Trevor Richards. A man who was known as the director of the Anti-Aparthied movement, but was arrested and fined.
Another important individual was John Minto, a known activist and was the chairman of HART during the tour. He was seen a great leader by the anti-tour protesters who looked up to him and saw him a role model. But for Minto although he lead the protest well, pro-tour supporters also decided to use force and violence on Him and his family in order to stop him from protesting. He had a lot of pressure on his shoulders as not only did he himself get beaten up during the demonstrations, but pro-tour supporters also planned personal attacks on his wife and children.
The HART activist group played a huge role in the Springbok Tour, leading many protest during the 56 days of the tour and also planning many dangerous stunts to stop the test matches from continuing. But as these stunts injured rugby players the Rugby Union responded by arresting one of HART's leaders; Trevor Richards. A man who was known as the director of the Anti-Aparthied movement, but was arrested and fined.
Another important individual was John Minto, a known activist and was the chairman of HART during the tour. He was seen a great leader by the anti-tour protesters who looked up to him and saw him a role model. But for Minto although he lead the protest well, pro-tour supporters also decided to use force and violence on Him and his family in order to stop him from protesting. He had a lot of pressure on his shoulders as not only did he himself get beaten up during the demonstrations, but pro-tour supporters also planned personal attacks on his wife and children.
Many protesters were also arrested after being beaten by batons because they resisted when police asked them to stop. Throughout the 56 days of the tour there were 205 demonstrations nationwide, involving a total of 150,000 protesters with nearly 2,000 arrested. Protesters fought ruthlessly, but as police tried to maintain order in the chaos protesters responded even more violently as this was seen in 'The battle of moles worth street.' With over a third of the police force involved, with orders to make sure the test matches proceed, which lead to more protesters being arrested amidst the ongoing riots.
Uneasiness
As conflict broke out all over New Zealand, Rugby players also felt apprehensive of playing against a team which had a racist policy in their country. Some refused to play and others that did play, were unsure and uneasy about the game. This affected them immensely as they were under a lot of pressure, by pro-tour supporters who wanted them to play and anti-tour protesters who were determined to stop the games. Especially the Maori rugby players, were reluctant to play against such a racist country but did it because they believed that the apartheid was wrong. Not only did the tour impact those who were involved in the violence and protest, but also heavily on those who were actually playing the game against South Africa.
As conflict broke out all over New Zealand, Rugby players also felt apprehensive of playing against a team which had a racist policy in their country. Some refused to play and others that did play, were unsure and uneasy about the game. This affected them immensely as they were under a lot of pressure, by pro-tour supporters who wanted them to play and anti-tour protesters who were determined to stop the games. Especially the Maori rugby players, were reluctant to play against such a racist country but did it because they believed that the apartheid was wrong. Not only did the tour impact those who were involved in the violence and protest, but also heavily on those who were actually playing the game against South Africa.
Injuries
The result of the tour inflicted many serious injuries on Anti-tour protesters and the police, because of all the conflict and violent methods to get points across people became injured which caused even greater disruption. One policeman had severe injuries because he was almost stoned to death by protesters. "My hands were lifeless at my sides. My collar bones were gone. I had been spun around against a fence and had a door smashed edgewise into my back. Then bricks rained down on me tearing my back muscles. That's when two fellows ran at me and drove a fence picket through my face. It came up under my visor." This is the horrific result of the violence that took over New Zealand, people responded in ways they would never do and people who were only doing their job never imagined that it would be this dangerous. They were shocked not by the protesters, but by the fact that they used to be civilised and cooperative people. But as this young policeman had witnessed, the tour changed people and the consequences of this was that people were severely injured because violence influenced them to do things which almost took lives.
The result of the tour inflicted many serious injuries on Anti-tour protesters and the police, because of all the conflict and violent methods to get points across people became injured which caused even greater disruption. One policeman had severe injuries because he was almost stoned to death by protesters. "My hands were lifeless at my sides. My collar bones were gone. I had been spun around against a fence and had a door smashed edgewise into my back. Then bricks rained down on me tearing my back muscles. That's when two fellows ran at me and drove a fence picket through my face. It came up under my visor." This is the horrific result of the violence that took over New Zealand, people responded in ways they would never do and people who were only doing their job never imagined that it would be this dangerous. They were shocked not by the protesters, but by the fact that they used to be civilised and cooperative people. But as this young policeman had witnessed, the tour changed people and the consequences of this was that people were severely injured because violence influenced them to do things which almost took lives.
Police
With protesters throwing themselves into reckless violent situations the only people who had a chance at stopping the conflicts were Red Squad policeman. But even though they were suppose to quell the fighting with force, some police were reluctant to respond as the violence had gotten out of hand and the protesters showed resistance with a great amount of force. Police were pushed back as protesters stoned police and used whatever they could get their hands on to hurl them towards the police. Most police had to use their batons with full on force, but others just couldn't respond or bring themselves to fight their loved ones who were protesting. One policeman said, "Do you realise," he said, tears streaming down his face."That my bloody wife was out there in the middle of the field today? Understand? I might have been ordered to arrest her, to baton her, to hurt her badly. Jesus! I mean, what is this all about? Its not just apartheid, is it? It has become something else and nobody knows what that is. And, because we don't understand, it will get much worse." This had a huge impact on police, no one should have to hurt their own family. But because of the tour, these dangerous protest changed the nation to think of nothing but fighting. It really was no longer about the apartheid, but about which side could win over the other. And caused individuals to make decisions that would hurt their loved ones and emotionally impact on themselves.
With protesters throwing themselves into reckless violent situations the only people who had a chance at stopping the conflicts were Red Squad policeman. But even though they were suppose to quell the fighting with force, some police were reluctant to respond as the violence had gotten out of hand and the protesters showed resistance with a great amount of force. Police were pushed back as protesters stoned police and used whatever they could get their hands on to hurl them towards the police. Most police had to use their batons with full on force, but others just couldn't respond or bring themselves to fight their loved ones who were protesting. One policeman said, "Do you realise," he said, tears streaming down his face."That my bloody wife was out there in the middle of the field today? Understand? I might have been ordered to arrest her, to baton her, to hurt her badly. Jesus! I mean, what is this all about? Its not just apartheid, is it? It has become something else and nobody knows what that is. And, because we don't understand, it will get much worse." This had a huge impact on police, no one should have to hurt their own family. But because of the tour, these dangerous protest changed the nation to think of nothing but fighting. It really was no longer about the apartheid, but about which side could win over the other. And caused individuals to make decisions that would hurt their loved ones and emotionally impact on themselves.
A silent nation
After the Springboks left New Zealand, and the violence died down the nation became silent. New Zealanders responded by ignoring the tour, by acting like it never happened. It was never spoken of after the tour, all the stores just closed down and even in pubs and bars the subject was never brought up in conversation. People were impacted so much that they just didn't wish to speak about it, it was as if they were trying to forget it. After 56 days of continuous conflict and violence, New Zealanders saw the after-math of the event and thought of those days as the darkest days in New Zealand history. This shows how much the nation was affected by the Springbok tour, it also showed those who assumed New Zealand was a Liberal nation, that New Zealanders need to sort out the racial issues in our nation before we point out another countries racial points. But some New Zealanders also saw this result as a new light, to use that as a lesson to teach everyone in the country that they should never repeat this, never repeat the violence and conflicts which divided New Zealand. But instead use it to become a more cooperative nation, a united nation which can solve is own racial issues. As in the book, Storm out of Africa said, "If anything, the nation has matured as a result of the tour. She has come of age."
After the Springboks left New Zealand, and the violence died down the nation became silent. New Zealanders responded by ignoring the tour, by acting like it never happened. It was never spoken of after the tour, all the stores just closed down and even in pubs and bars the subject was never brought up in conversation. People were impacted so much that they just didn't wish to speak about it, it was as if they were trying to forget it. After 56 days of continuous conflict and violence, New Zealanders saw the after-math of the event and thought of those days as the darkest days in New Zealand history. This shows how much the nation was affected by the Springbok tour, it also showed those who assumed New Zealand was a Liberal nation, that New Zealanders need to sort out the racial issues in our nation before we point out another countries racial points. But some New Zealanders also saw this result as a new light, to use that as a lesson to teach everyone in the country that they should never repeat this, never repeat the violence and conflicts which divided New Zealand. But instead use it to become a more cooperative nation, a united nation which can solve is own racial issues. As in the book, Storm out of Africa said, "If anything, the nation has matured as a result of the tour. She has come of age."