Exhibition Anti-Apartheid2 - 1970sprotestphotos

Exhibition: Anti-Apartheid

The whole world was watching
In 1981, the Springbok rugby team toured New Zealand. Protests against the tour were unprecedented. It was the closest New Zealand came to civil war in the 20th century. Over 56 days, more than 150,000 New Zealanders took part in demonstrations across the country. Twice a week, they marched. The target was not only the matches but hotels, transport companies and others who were facilitating the tour. Pitched battles were fought on rugby fields and in the streets. Two matches were cancelled. International news agencies sent crews to cover the developing story. The whole world was watching.

Photographs

11 June 1970: Victoria University students march to Parliament, venue for the All Black tour to South Africa official farewell function. 1970 was the first time South Africa had agreed to accept Māori and Pasifika players in the All Blacks. One prominent Afrikaner newspaper editor commented ‘we have an informal understanding that they won’t send us any very dark ones just now.’

KEITH STEWART

12 June 1970: stop the tour march, central Wellington Students from Victoria University, trade unionists (many from the Seamen’s Union) and members of the public protest against the imminent departure of the All Blacks for South Africa.

KEITH STEWART

12 June 1970: the battle of Willis Street Wellington protesters against the 1970 All Black tour stage a sit-down at Stewart Dawson’s Corner, Willis St. In the foreground, with face paint, is Rev Don Borrie. The protests ended in the country’s first street battles over apartheid sport.

CHRIS SLATER

26 June 1971 (South Africa Freedom Day) celebrated Although HART’s sights at this time were clearly set on the 1973 Springbok rugby tour, as the banner proclaims, all tours mattered. This demonstration in Auckland led by HART leader Trevor Richards, was against the participation of South Africa in the Women’s Hockey World Championships, scheduled for Auckland in August 1971. In July the South African team was excluded from the tournament.

JOHN M MILLER

12 June 1970: Polynesian solidarity with oppressed South Africans From the beginning of New Zealand’s anti-apartheid protests, Pasifika people were actively supportive. Along with Māori activists, their involvement resulted in a greater awareness among Pākehā protestors of New Zealand’s systemic racism.

HILARY WATSON

21 March 1973: HART rally against the scheduled 1973 Springbok tour of New Zealand, Wellington Town Hall . On 10 April 1973 Labour Prime Minister Norman Kirk stopped the Springbok tour. Nelson Mandela was later to say that ‘the cancellation of the tour was the first time he thought that apartheid might actually be able to be ended in his lifetime’.

KEITH STEWART

22 February 1974: Wellington airport protest against departure of Petone Rugby Football Club tour of South Africa Petone captain, Andy Leslie, complained ‘it’s a bloody shame we can’t march proudly in our uniforms.’ Not all agreed. Petone winger Vern Winitana declared his opposition to the tour. He found the ‘mass indifference of most New Zealanders to apartheid…frightening’.

KEITH STEWART

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