Anti-apartheid protestors, Hamilton

Anti-apartheid protestors, Hamilton

Partly as a result of Māori migration into towns and cities, race relations began to loom large in New Zealand life in the second half of the 20th century. Sporting relations with apartheid South Africa became a touchstone of racial attitudes. In 1981, the Muldoon government allowed a tour by South Africa’s Springbok rugby team to go ahead, despite protests over sporting relations with a country ruled by a racist government. Widespread civil unrest erupted. On 25 July 1981, protesters invaded Rugby Park at Hamilton and forced the cancellation of a Springbok game.