An examination of the history of New Zealand's sporting ties with South Africa, leading up to the start of the 1981 Springbok tour. [See ID204080 for Part 1]
An excerpt of Prime Minister Norman Kirk's postponement of the 1973 Springbok tour of New Zealand is heard.
National Party leader Robert Muldoon used the cancellation and dissatisfaction with it, in his 1975 campaign against Labour. [Audio of Muldoon speaking at an election meeting, saying National will guarantee New Zealanders the right to play sport with whomever they wish.]
In November 1975 National swept back into power.
Political scientist Les Cleveland comments on the impact of sporting ties with South Africa on the election result.
The World Softball Tournament in Lower Hutt invited South Africa, to protest from other countries and a threatened boycott by African nations.
The South African softball team then toured New Zealand to protests wherever they played, including a plane dropping leaflets and flour bombs on a game. Tom Newnham from the anti-apartheid group CARE recalls the increase in police action against demonstrators.
Further threats of an boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics were made by African countries because of New Zealand's continued ties with South Africa. Abraham Ordia, President of the African Council on Sport appeared on Gordon Dryden's television programme 'Friday Conference' - an excerpt of fiery debate is heard. The Muldoon government refused to meet with him.
in June 1976, five days before the All Blacks were due to depart for a three-month tour of South Africa, police fired on protesting school children in Soweto, sparking rioting, which lead to the deaths of 174 black South Africans. [Audio of news coverage]. The 1976 All Blacks lost the test series - excerpt of test commentary. John Howson, Radio New Zealand commentator on the tour, said the team were largely unaware of the violence which had erupted in South African cities during the tour.
In Montreal, the Queen opens the 1976 Olympics. New Zealand was nearly barred after threatened boycotts by African nations. A Nigerian spokesman is heard at a press conference. A New Zealand Olympic spokesman justifies the team's attendance, despite the boycott. Nearly 30 nations withdrew. John Howson comments that the All Blacks were largely unaware of the trouble their tour was causing at the Olympics.
News item of Prime Minister Muldoon dismissing the Olympic boycott. A poll showed the majority of New Zealanders were now opposed to a Springbok team touring here. Sir Keith Holyoake made an attack on apartheid at the United Nations and noted the Olympic boycott had shocked New Zealanders.
A compromise agreement was reached at the Commonwealth Leader's conference in 1977. The Gleneagles Agreement is read, pledging opposition to apartheid and opposing sporting contact with South Africa while is pursues apartheid. Robert Muldoon speaks about how the agreement was drafted.
The loose nature of the Gleneagles Agreement is commented on by Les Cleveland. However, it was enough to prevent a boycott of the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games.
The Organisation of African Unity wrote to New Zealand with concerns about the planned 1981 rugby tour of New Zealand by the Springboks. Ces Blazey of the NZRFU explains the invited team has been selected 'on merit' and is not racially based. His South African counterpart Dr Danie Craven expresses his delight at the invitation.
Opposition to the 1981 tour rose quickly in New Zealand. Labour leader Bill Rowling comments on the need to withhold visas.[Actuality] All Black captain Graham Mourie announces he will not be available for the tour, on the grounds of moral opposition to apartheid and that the Tour will be bad for New Zealand. [Actualtiy of Graham Mourie]
Chief Superintendant Brian Davies comments on preparations for the Tour by New Zealand police, including riot equipment.
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tony Street expresses concern about a possible boycott of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. In May 60-70,000 people take to the streets around New Zealand to protest about the planned tour. [Actuality of march organiser warning participants to not engage with 'drunken hoons' opposing them - actuality of protests.]
Mrs Elizabeth Sutherland of SPIR - Society for the Protection of Individual Rights is heard explaining the need for the tour to go ahead to protect New Zealanders' freedom.
Mr Muldoon threatens to withdraw New Zealand from the Gleneagles Agreement after complaints by the Commonwealth Secretary General Sonny Ramphal against the planned 1981 tour. Foreign Minister Brian Talboys makes an impassioned plea in Parliament for the Tour to be called off. [actuality]
Last Monday, Mr Muldoon make a final approach to the New Zealand Rugby Union to stop the Tour but says the government will not order them to abandon it. Mr Rowling and other party leaders make similar pleas, but the 1981 Springbok Tour is due to go ahead.