Significance and Effect of the 1981 Springbok Tour to New Zealanders and New Zealand Society...
The Springbok Tour of 1981 held a large significance and effect over New Zealanders. The tour tore the nation in two, dividing communities and separating families in to pro or anti tour. The protests created huge
interruptions in daily life and influenced both social and political debates
between groups. The division reached such an extent that some family members
even moved out of their homes to separate themselves from one another. This was
one of the more extent conclusions in the divide between the families. Though
some people had a more inconclusive opinion on the matter, they still held some
sort of view on the matter. Hence, the build up to the 56 day tour, the tour
itself and the aftermath left an effect on the entire nation.
The Springbok Tour set a great effect on the future of New Zealand as it influenced people’s voting for the coming elections. Despite a close win by the National Party led by Robert Muldoon in 1981, the Labour Party pulled away in 1984 and this would be the cause of a great change for New Zealand society. The party that was led by David Lange stated that it wouldn’t be involved in any sporting tours with South Africa until apartheid had been ruled out. Consequently due to this, the South African embassy in Wellington was closed down. Long term changes followed with the introducing of the nuclear-free legislation and the homosexual law reform. These were important social and political changes that would influence the New Zealand identity and help rebuild the character that it had lost from previous years due to its friendship with racist South Africa.
Even today, the aftermath of the Springbok tour only just recently came to an end, when in 2010 the New Zealand and South Africa rugby unions apologized to the Māori players from their exclusion from the matches. As well as this the South African government praised the New Zealand protestors who stood up for the injustice that was taking place. For those protestors this would have left a significant impact on them as they had finally the recognition that their acts deserved. The apology to those who were affected by the apartheid in South Africa received an apology in August of 1996 from the ex-South African President.
The Springbok Tour set a great effect on the future of New Zealand as it influenced people’s voting for the coming elections. Despite a close win by the National Party led by Robert Muldoon in 1981, the Labour Party pulled away in 1984 and this would be the cause of a great change for New Zealand society. The party that was led by David Lange stated that it wouldn’t be involved in any sporting tours with South Africa until apartheid had been ruled out. Consequently due to this, the South African embassy in Wellington was closed down. Long term changes followed with the introducing of the nuclear-free legislation and the homosexual law reform. These were important social and political changes that would influence the New Zealand identity and help rebuild the character that it had lost from previous years due to its friendship with racist South Africa.
Even today, the aftermath of the Springbok tour only just recently came to an end, when in 2010 the New Zealand and South Africa rugby unions apologized to the Māori players from their exclusion from the matches. As well as this the South African government praised the New Zealand protestors who stood up for the injustice that was taking place. For those protestors this would have left a significant impact on them as they had finally the recognition that their acts deserved. The apology to those who were affected by the apartheid in South Africa received an apology in August of 1996 from the ex-South African President.