One of the first and perhaps the most significant long-term cause of protest against the 1981 Springbok Tour was the South Africa apartheid regime. Introduced in 1948 and continued until 1994 by various National Party governments in power, the system prospered through discriminated against black people, forcing them to live in shanty towns on the fringes of society. Laws and regulations enforced and supported this nationwide separation of white and black, South Africa was soon put under international pressure from the United Nations and other organisations in an effort to stop apartheid. In 1968, the UN called for a ban on sporting contacts with South Africa in an attempt to put pressure back on the South African government to change racist policies. New Zealanders were aware of and knew about apartheid in South Africa, and understood that it was an unfair and unjust system that should be abolished.
New Zealand had a special tie with South Africa through the fact they were both multi-racial countries, however New Zealand was gradually gaining ground towards establishing positive relations between the Maori and Europeans while South Africa were desperately trying to hold onto outdated policies in a world on track to a goal of worldwide racial equality. New Zealanders were especially appalled at the treatment of black South Africans. Many Maori could not stand this, and when rugby tours were proposed with South Africa, they protested on the grounds of apartheid. Many New Zealanders felt that through having sporting contact with an apartheid state, New Zealand would be seen as condoning apartheid.
The apartheid regime in South Africa was a main cause of the Springbok Tour protests for it was the disgust and hate of the apartheid system by the protesters which caused many New Zealanders to take to the streets in an act of defiance. Apartheid was the main reason so many New Zealanders opposed the 1981 tour and sought to share a voice which declared apartheid as a crime to humanity.
New Zealand had a special tie with South Africa through the fact they were both multi-racial countries, however New Zealand was gradually gaining ground towards establishing positive relations between the Maori and Europeans while South Africa were desperately trying to hold onto outdated policies in a world on track to a goal of worldwide racial equality. New Zealanders were especially appalled at the treatment of black South Africans. Many Maori could not stand this, and when rugby tours were proposed with South Africa, they protested on the grounds of apartheid. Many New Zealanders felt that through having sporting contact with an apartheid state, New Zealand would be seen as condoning apartheid.
The apartheid regime in South Africa was a main cause of the Springbok Tour protests for it was the disgust and hate of the apartheid system by the protesters which caused many New Zealanders to take to the streets in an act of defiance. Apartheid was the main reason so many New Zealanders opposed the 1981 tour and sought to share a voice which declared apartheid as a crime to humanity.