How the event is of significance to New Zealanders
Race relations
As said earlier in section which outlines how people responded, it was very significant to New Zealanders as it divided the nation, split families and friendships. But one of the huge impacts that it had on New Zealand was, that it made the country re-think about its own race relations. After all the chaos caused because of the tour New Zealanders thought, have we actually solved our own racial issues? Protesting for another countries freedom of Apartheid, changed the nations perspective to focus on there own problems to do with racial equality. Especially the Maori ethnic majority in New Zealand, they were treated with disrespect when it came to land claims. The issue of land loss became the headlines on the news and in newspapers when thousands of Maori supporters marched from all over New Zealand to the Parliament building in Wellington. This was called the 'Land march' lead by Whina Cooper, after the governments refusal to respond to Maori land claims. This goes far back to when the treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by representatives of the British crown. The treaty was originally to establish a British government in New Zealand, which was what the Maori tribesmen had agreed to. This gave Maori British rights and also was suppose to recognize Maori ownership of land and other properties. But as there were both an English and Maori version of the treaty, they both differed significantly, so therefore there wasn't any exact agreement to what they had signed. Maori signed the treaty in exchange for protection from the British crown, but the perspective of the British people the treaty gave them Sovereignty over New Zealand which meant that they could govern the country.
As said earlier in section which outlines how people responded, it was very significant to New Zealanders as it divided the nation, split families and friendships. But one of the huge impacts that it had on New Zealand was, that it made the country re-think about its own race relations. After all the chaos caused because of the tour New Zealanders thought, have we actually solved our own racial issues? Protesting for another countries freedom of Apartheid, changed the nations perspective to focus on there own problems to do with racial equality. Especially the Maori ethnic majority in New Zealand, they were treated with disrespect when it came to land claims. The issue of land loss became the headlines on the news and in newspapers when thousands of Maori supporters marched from all over New Zealand to the Parliament building in Wellington. This was called the 'Land march' lead by Whina Cooper, after the governments refusal to respond to Maori land claims. This goes far back to when the treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 by representatives of the British crown. The treaty was originally to establish a British government in New Zealand, which was what the Maori tribesmen had agreed to. This gave Maori British rights and also was suppose to recognize Maori ownership of land and other properties. But as there were both an English and Maori version of the treaty, they both differed significantly, so therefore there wasn't any exact agreement to what they had signed. Maori signed the treaty in exchange for protection from the British crown, but the perspective of the British people the treaty gave them Sovereignty over New Zealand which meant that they could govern the country.
This lead to the inequality of how Maori people were treated in New Zealand, because they weren't in charge of their own land. The European government in New Zealand during the 1900s refused land claims of the Maori, which is what lead to the land march and other Maori protest for more land. And after the Tour, many Maori people were involved in the anti-tour protest with Europeans as well. Especially those who participated in the protest, realised how important it was to treat all ethnic groups in New Zealand with equality. The tour pushed New Zealanders to actually re-think the race relations in New Zealand. The nations perspective changed after the tour, with more people supporting the Maori claims the government had no other choice but the respond to them. This gave the Maori people equal status with the Europeans, after such success in the claim the Maori were more confident with the respect of many supporters throughout the nation. This was significant to New Zealand as it made much stronger as a nation, united as a country. The Springbok tour really made New Zealanders realise how important it is to treat everyone with respect and equality no matter what colour they were, even though there were many disputes New Zealand still was able to solve its racial problems step by step, forming a stronger racial bond with all ethnic groups in the country.
Race Unity Speech Awards 2013 - Naomi Kumar's winning speech.
This speech helps to re-enforce the idea that people today in our nation are still striving for racial equality, no matter how much time passes New Zealanders will not forget the Springbok Tour. Never giving up hope that someday in our nation we will definitely achieve equality.
This speech helps to re-enforce the idea that people today in our nation are still striving for racial equality, no matter how much time passes New Zealanders will not forget the Springbok Tour. Never giving up hope that someday in our nation we will definitely achieve equality.
Status
New Zealand's status around the world was at its lowest during the tour, as many countries saw New Zealand as a very racist nation after it accepted the tour with South Africa, which in turn meant that they agreed with the Apartheid. All other countries had stopped trading with South Africa and trading with them because they followed a racial policy. But because New Zealand accepted there tour they were seen as a nation which sided with the Apartheid, and its International status dropped to the lowest it had ever been in New Zealand history. But after violent protests were streamed live all over the world, other nations started to change there perspectives of New Zealand. That not all of New Zealand agreed with the tour, but many were strongly against the Apartheid by participating in the protest passionately fighting for what they believed in. Which showed the black people in South Africa that people from as far a nation as New Zealand wanted to break the Apartheid just as much as they did. This was significant to New Zealanders because after all the riots and protests New Zealand's status in the world improved dramatically. Which gave the nation more respect from the world, because of the tour the status was brought down but if it weren't for the tour New Zealand's status would never have increased so much and would have never showed the world how strongly New Zealand wishes to break racial policies. This tour showed many nations how strong New Zealand is when it comes to protests for equality, which is why this was so significant for New Zealanders.
New Zealand's status around the world was at its lowest during the tour, as many countries saw New Zealand as a very racist nation after it accepted the tour with South Africa, which in turn meant that they agreed with the Apartheid. All other countries had stopped trading with South Africa and trading with them because they followed a racial policy. But because New Zealand accepted there tour they were seen as a nation which sided with the Apartheid, and its International status dropped to the lowest it had ever been in New Zealand history. But after violent protests were streamed live all over the world, other nations started to change there perspectives of New Zealand. That not all of New Zealand agreed with the tour, but many were strongly against the Apartheid by participating in the protest passionately fighting for what they believed in. Which showed the black people in South Africa that people from as far a nation as New Zealand wanted to break the Apartheid just as much as they did. This was significant to New Zealanders because after all the riots and protests New Zealand's status in the world improved dramatically. Which gave the nation more respect from the world, because of the tour the status was brought down but if it weren't for the tour New Zealand's status would never have increased so much and would have never showed the world how strongly New Zealand wishes to break racial policies. This tour showed many nations how strong New Zealand is when it comes to protests for equality, which is why this was so significant for New Zealanders.