EFFECT ON TWO GROUPS/PEOPLE
THE ANTI-TOUR MOVEMENT
The anti-tour movement was made.up of various groups and people:
• Anti-racist organisations eg HART (Halt all Racist Tours), CARE (Citizens
Association for Racial Equality), NAAC (National Anti-Apartheid Council)
• Church Groups
• Trade Unions
• Local organisations
• Individuals with no particular allegiance
The anti-tour movement committed themselves to a programme of non-violent
civil disobedience, demonstration, and direct action.
At Rugby Park, Hamilton on July 25, about 350 rioting protesters invaded the pitch.
The police arrested about 50 of them over a period of an hour, but were concerned
that they could not control the rugby crowd, who were throwing bottles and other
objects at the protesters. Following reports that a stolen light plane (piloted by Pat
McQuarrie) was approaching the stadium, police cancelled the match. Many
protestors were beaten up by rugby supporters after the cancellation.
Violence after the Hamilton game, followed by the bloody violence of
Molesworth Street, Wellington, in which police batoned bare-headed, sitting
protesters, led to the protest movement becoming more radical.
Many protesters took to protests wearing motorcycle helmets, as a way of
protecting themselves from head injury
Approx 2000 protestors were arrested and the NZ Court system took over a
year to process all the cases.
Thousands of protestors were injured, hundreds required medical attention. No
protestors were killed.
THE POLICE
The police already had plans drawn up on how to police the tour and deal with
the expected mass protest. In 1973 the proposed Springbok Tour had been
cancelled, so the Police used the plans they had prepared then.
The Police Commander in 1981 was Bob Walton. Walton, in private, tried
to convince PM Muldoon, Police Minister Couch and NZRFU Chairman
Blazey that the Tour would cause serious disturbances and should be
cancelled. They, however, were determined the Tour should proceed.
The police created two special riot squads, the Red and Blue Squads. These
police were the first in New Zealand to be issued with visored riot helmets and
with what was then referred to as the long baton.
After early disruptions, police began to require that all spectators assemble in
sports grounds at least an hour before kick-off
It seems that the police had informants in the Protest Movement. The protestors
also seem to have been getting information within the Police.
The Police were angry and embarrassed by their failure in Hamilton to stop the
protestors. Walton offered his resignation but was refused.
After Hamilton, the police increased numbers involved in Tour operations. The
final police bill for the Tour was over $15 million. It was the largest police
operation in NZ history.
Police no’s at 1st Test Christchurch = 1473, 2nd Test Wellington = 1611
3rd Test Auckland = 2134
Police also used rubbish skips and barbed wire to set up barriers to keep the
protestors away from the rugby grounds where the games were being held.
‘Operation Rugby’ involved not only the police but also logistical support from the
army and air force. Eg Hercules transport planes were used to move the police about
the country.
Many police were injured. None were killed
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