Consequences and effects on New zealanders
The 1981 Springbok Tour had many short and long term consequences both internationally and in New Zealand. An affect that this tour had on New Zealand society was the split of people due to differing opinions and views on the tour. Although these opinions would have already been held prior to the tour, they really came to the surface during and after this tour and people began to make their voices heard. This split was reflected by the clashes that took place between the anti-tour protestors and the pro-tour supporters. However, the split went much deeper than just a clash between pro-tour and anti-tour supporters. Tensions grew within families and friendships were split because of this. “the tour caused such tension that we could no longer live in the same house together”. The divide was not just between supporters and protesters but between rural and urban dwellers, famers and townies. As the urban population began to take larger notice of the importance of their actions on a world scale, the rural population was still concerned with the importance of rugby to their own everyday lives.
During and after the Springbok Tour, thousands of Maoris saw Pakeha protestors' commitment to racial equality as untrue for they ignored the racism present in their own country. The Springbok tour brought to the surface issues of discrimination and mis-treating of Maori in our own country. Maori wanted action for their own rights and felt they deserved special treatment due to living in New Zealand. Maori activism increased and resulted in the 1984 Te Hikoi March and disruption of Waitangi day celebrations. Treaty of Waitangi disputes also came to light. Maori, however were not the only ones to increase activism and protest following the 1981 Springbok tour. The culture created by the younger generation during the tour spurred on protest action into the following decade and now has a lasting legacy in the 21st century. Anti-nuclear campaigns continued and Homosexual law reform laws were passed in response to public action. The government now realised the growing importance of the people and the power that they held.
This tour also affected politics and in Particular the 1981 and 1984 elections. Prior to the commencement of the Springbok Tour, a very close outcome was predicted in 1981, however, Muldoon's strategic harnessing of rural support worked to his advantage and National held onto power, albeit at a huge social expense. Without the support of the marginal provinces, Muldoon may have not been re-elected. This initial support did wear off as the more long-lasting social change expressed itself in a greater sense of respect for civil and human rights resulting in a landslide Labour victory in 1984. David Lange's government went on to legalise homosexuality and introduce nuclear-free legislation, further evidence of new changes in public opinion.
the impact of the 1981 Springbok tour was felt around the world, particularly in South Africa. As news and footage of the protests were seen around the world and in South Africa, people realised that if people from somewhere as far fetched as New Zealand feel so strongly about the issue of Apartheid, then maybe it really is a problem. Therefore, the 1981 tour was part of a long process that led to this significant change in South Africa, and ultimately represented New Zealand’s contribution to the abolishment of Apartheid and the coming to power of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela recalled that when he was in his prison cell on Robben Island and heard that the game in Hamilton had been cancelled, it was as ‘if the sun had come out’. Mandela was eventually freed from prison in February 1990 and inaugurated as the first democratically elected state president of South Africa on 10 May 1994.
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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 their 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 their 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.
Key IdeasThe 1981 Springbok Tour had many short and long term effects, both internationally and here in New Zealand. The differing opinions caused a split in families and friends and people felt uncomfortable living in the same house as someone who felt so strongly the other way. Along with this tensions also grew and we saw a split in the rural and urban communities of New Zealand. The Tour raised awareness that maybe we should look at race relations in our own country rather than just focusing on South Africa and as a result, problems with the treatment of Maori in our country were raised. The tour also had a profound effect on politics and in particular the 1981 and 1984 elections. The latter in which Muldoons reign ended. Overall the effect that this tour had was a positive one. It raised awareness that apartheid is not okay and it gave the ill treated in South Africa a voice. This may have been a contributing factor to the election of Nelson Mandela and the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. 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.
During and after the Springbok Tour, thousands of Maoris saw Pakeha protestors' commitment to racial equality as untrue for they ignored the racism present in their own country. The Springbok tour brought to the surface issues of discrimination and mis-treating of Maori in our own country. Maori wanted action for their own rights and felt they deserved special treatment due to living in New Zealand. Maori activism increased and resulted in the 1984 Te Hikoi March and disruption of Waitangi day celebrations. Treaty of Waitangi disputes also came to light. Maori, however were not the only ones to increase activism and protest following the 1981 Springbok tour. The culture created by the younger generation during the tour spurred on protest action into the following decade and now has a lasting legacy in the 21st century. Anti-nuclear campaigns continued and Homosexual law reform laws were passed in response to public action. The government now realised the growing importance of the people and the power that they held.
This tour also affected politics and in Particular the 1981 and 1984 elections. Prior to the commencement of the Springbok Tour, a very close outcome was predicted in 1981, however, Muldoon's strategic harnessing of rural support worked to his advantage and National held onto power, albeit at a huge social expense. Without the support of the marginal provinces, Muldoon may have not been re-elected. This initial support did wear off as the more long-lasting social change expressed itself in a greater sense of respect for civil and human rights resulting in a landslide Labour victory in 1984. David Lange's government went on to legalise homosexuality and introduce nuclear-free legislation, further evidence of new changes in public opinion.
the impact of the 1981 Springbok tour was felt around the world, particularly in South Africa. As news and footage of the protests were seen around the world and in South Africa, people realised that if people from somewhere as far fetched as New Zealand feel so strongly about the issue of Apartheid, then maybe it really is a problem. Therefore, the 1981 tour was part of a long process that led to this significant change in South Africa, and ultimately represented New Zealand’s contribution to the abolishment of Apartheid and the coming to power of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela recalled that when he was in his prison cell on Robben Island and heard that the game in Hamilton had been cancelled, it was as ‘if the sun had come out’. Mandela was eventually freed from prison in February 1990 and inaugurated as the first democratically elected state president of South Africa on 10 May 1994.
.
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 their 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 their 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.
Key IdeasThe 1981 Springbok Tour had many short and long term effects, both internationally and here in New Zealand. The differing opinions caused a split in families and friends and people felt uncomfortable living in the same house as someone who felt so strongly the other way. Along with this tensions also grew and we saw a split in the rural and urban communities of New Zealand. The Tour raised awareness that maybe we should look at race relations in our own country rather than just focusing on South Africa and as a result, problems with the treatment of Maori in our country were raised. The tour also had a profound effect on politics and in particular the 1981 and 1984 elections. The latter in which Muldoons reign ended. Overall the effect that this tour had was a positive one. It raised awareness that apartheid is not okay and it gave the ill treated in South Africa a voice. This may have been a contributing factor to the election of Nelson Mandela and the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. 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.