Effects on New Zealand Society
The way in which the Springbok Tour divided New Zealand society was a significant short-term social consequence. Essentially, culture in New Zealand was divided into those who were pro-tour and those who were anti-tour. Those who were pro-tour believed that politics and sports do not mix. Those who were Anti-tour had the deep belief that the halt of the tour in New Zealand could result in the halt of Apartheid laws in South Africa. Not all those who were rugby fans were pro-tour; Bruce Robertson is an obvious example of this. The divide in the country can be seen as a direct consequence of the era in which technology was allowing for international news to be more accessible for the public. The educated middle class youth had access to images and footage of the Apartheid system, which allowed them to make the links between the national and international disputes. It was predominately these younger people, who had grown up with the new technologies, who joined the anti-tour side as statistics have shown that over half of the anti-tour protestors in 1981 had university degrees and a further third had UE. This shows that New Zealand's thriving lust for education has allowed us to develop a strong yet diverse sense of morality,
For rugby supporters, the protest of during the 1981 tour had a clear effect on rugby. The sport suffered in the years following the protest as the rugby supporters and players recovered from the unforgettable experiences associated with the tour. The teams never meet again officially until after the apartheid laws were repealed in 1994 however scars were still visible in future tests. The on and off field tension between the two nations heightened and the games between the two sides attracted attention for being attributed to rough and often dirty play. For example, in 1994 the current captain, Sean Fitzpatrick was bitten by Springbok front-row forward Johan Le Roux. This reinforced the sides exasperated determination to win against one another.
The Anti Springbok tour fostered a sense of attentiveness and willingness to demonstrate against other injustices within society. The protest culture resonated the homosexual law reform campaigns as New Zealanders had learnt that they have the ability to bring about change. This was also true for the Maori who saw the Springbok tour protest as a call to eliminate any existing racism in New Zealand that had been long since overlooked following the colonization of the country. Many Maori became aggravated at the failure for successive governments to act on and honor the Treaty of Waitangi. This resulted in the evolution of a new wave of Maori Nationalism in which urban Maori played a significant role in the years proceeding the tour.
The political effects on New Zealand society were minimal. Many argue that the pro-tour protest came out on top as the tour continued. Muldoon’s National party narrowly won the 1981 election to mark their third term in office. The sporting contact with South Africa was again considered an election issue in 1981 as it had been in the previous election. This emphasized that sport and politics do mix and the realization of this concept was an important effect that was imbedded in New Zealand society succeeding to the 1981 tour.
For rugby supporters, the protest of during the 1981 tour had a clear effect on rugby. The sport suffered in the years following the protest as the rugby supporters and players recovered from the unforgettable experiences associated with the tour. The teams never meet again officially until after the apartheid laws were repealed in 1994 however scars were still visible in future tests. The on and off field tension between the two nations heightened and the games between the two sides attracted attention for being attributed to rough and often dirty play. For example, in 1994 the current captain, Sean Fitzpatrick was bitten by Springbok front-row forward Johan Le Roux. This reinforced the sides exasperated determination to win against one another.
The Anti Springbok tour fostered a sense of attentiveness and willingness to demonstrate against other injustices within society. The protest culture resonated the homosexual law reform campaigns as New Zealanders had learnt that they have the ability to bring about change. This was also true for the Maori who saw the Springbok tour protest as a call to eliminate any existing racism in New Zealand that had been long since overlooked following the colonization of the country. Many Maori became aggravated at the failure for successive governments to act on and honor the Treaty of Waitangi. This resulted in the evolution of a new wave of Maori Nationalism in which urban Maori played a significant role in the years proceeding the tour.
The political effects on New Zealand society were minimal. Many argue that the pro-tour protest came out on top as the tour continued. Muldoon’s National party narrowly won the 1981 election to mark their third term in office. The sporting contact with South Africa was again considered an election issue in 1981 as it had been in the previous election. This emphasized that sport and politics do mix and the realization of this concept was an important effect that was imbedded in New Zealand society succeeding to the 1981 tour.