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Racism in New Zealand rugby union

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112:, missed out on these tours. Public opinion was strongly against the tours and eventually lead to a change. Despite this Māori were still avid supporters of their national team. When the policy was changed in 1970 only four Māori were allowed to travel and were classified as 'honorary whites'. The obvious trouble with accepting the tours was that New Zealand would be seen as supporting the Apartheid regime. However, it is easy to overlook the fact that many players grow up hoping to one day play for the All Blacks and to miss out would be devastating. 82:
players for tours to South Africa prior to 1970. There was much internal and external criticism of the tours, with the slogan 'No Māori - No Tour' being prominent in New Zealand. Recently the Human Rights Commissioner has commended this as the starting point of the campaign to stop the tours. In 1969
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to make abusive comments about Polynesian players from Wesley College. Their comments included criticism of the Island players' intelligence and that the only reason they succeed in rugby was due to their 'superior brawn'. The rector of St Bedes declared he was disgusted by the comments. A complaint
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has said that the claims made by Haden were offensive and incorrect. Whether or not this claim was true is still debated, but it did manage to highlight the fact that many people still believe that not all players are equal in skill on the field and that racism could still be present at the top club
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is seen as the most controversial. There were protests all over New Zealand many of them descending into violence dividing the country into two opposing sides. There were over 200 protests which lead to roughly 1500 arrests within a 56-day period. The protest did much to divide families as well, one
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There have been occasions that highlight racism as a factor in club level rugby. One example reported was when a brawl at a game between Celtic and McKenzie was said to have been a reaction to the racial abusing of a Polynesian player. Other examples include spectators racially abusing players at a
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competition that is contested between themselves, Australia and South Africa. While there has been success on the field some teams have been plagued by racism off it. New Zealand is a vastly culturally diverse nation and the Super Rugby teams and management reflect this. The issues are not always a
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allowed a mixed team to be sent. One of the ways that HART got its message around was by using Badges. The 1973 tour was postponed due to public pressure put on the Labour government, pressure which HART was a major player in. HART's main function was to organise and co-ordinate protests, and while
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This shows that it was not just a protest around rugby, but also on societal structure and moral values. The protest campaign galvanised and strengthened New Zealand's anti-racist movement. The aftermath of the tour was that there was to be no official sporting contact until apartheid ended. There
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The first tour by a South African Rugby team was in 1921. The South African team played one game against a team named the natives, which was made up entirely of Māori. A South African journalist reported that the Springboks were ‘frankly disgusted’ at playing against ‘a band of coloured men'. One
240:, has said the taunts aimed at Pat Lam are appalling, and has stated that it highlights the fact that racism is still existent in New Zealand Society. The interesting part of this incident was that it was done via social media meaning that those making the taunts were not ascertainable. 133:
it was not the major player in the 1981 protests it still is seen as one of the main reasons for the eventual discontinuance of the tours. Many other protest groups developed from the same ideals promoted by HART, one prominent group that was very much involved in racial issues was
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made the accusation that the Crusaders racially discriminate because they select different races on the basis that they are suited to different positions. The club adamantly denied the allegation with many players coming out saying that the claims have no basis. Prime Minister
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were of Polynesian descent. However, although the national team has a long history of success, it also has on occasion been the subject of racial issues. On the international stage there has been controversy in the tours of and by South Africa, the most famous of which was the
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in 1986 which embarrassed the New Zealand government who in turn banned the players for two tests. A recalcitrant apology to Māori came in 2010, but only after the South African Rugby Union did so at the prompting of the republic's then minister for sport, Makhenkesi Stofile.
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was racially abused via social media by fans that were unsatisfied with his team's performance. There was also criticism leveled at the team itself, mainly suggestions that the Pacific Island and Māori players were to blame. The head of New Zealand Rugby,
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product of the teams actions and policies, but many of the issues stem from the supporters of the teams. Much of this is said to highlight an undertone of racism that is common among ageing rugby supporters who stereotype rugby positions and ability.
104:"Bad enough having to play officially designated New Zealand Natives, but spectacle thousands Europeans frantically cheering on band of coloured man to defeat members of own race was too much for Springboks who frankly disgusted." 248:
There have been a few instances of racism at grass roots level, in particular at high school and top amateur divisions. This racial abuse has been said to be New Zealand rugby's dirty secret on more than one occasion.
174:"Although things had been far from perfect between my parents, the Springbok tour caused such tension and stress that we could not live together in the same house and function as a family unit." 87:
was set up to protest future games between New Zealand and South Africa. Some tours were called off due to such pressure, the most controversial of the tours to go ahead was the
651: 44:. There have also been some instances of racism in college rugby and club rugby. Racism is quite a serious human rights issue in New Zealand, which was highlighted in the 373: 209:
rugby team selection policy was racist. The allegation that was made was that the Crusaders selection policy was to only include three non-European players.
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The tour policy of South Africa was not well received by the public in New Zealand. In 1969 a group of Auckland University students headed by
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Te Ao Hou, Eve J. Magee, In Support of the New Zealand Māori Councils Decision in Favour of the 1970 All Black Tour, page 54
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as the national team. The All Blacks are made up of many races and cultures, and seven of the fifteen starters in the
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Evidence of racism at college level came when eight players from St Bedes College who used the social media website
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Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: New Zealand A/HRC/12/8
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Aroha Harris, Hīkoi: Forty Years of Māori Protest, (Huia Publishers, Wellington, New Zealand, 2004) at 32
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Te Ara-The Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi activism, page 2, Cartoon 3
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Te Ara-The Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi activism, page 2, Cartoon 3
28: 61: 582: 36:. These tours drew much international criticism as many states were boycotting South Africa due to 206: 75: 503: 180: 128:. The main purpose was to provide a group to protest the tours. The 1970 tour went ahead but 125: 84: 571:
Te Ara-The Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi activism, page 4
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Te Ara-The Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi activism, page 2
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Wellington Cities Libraries, Heritage > The 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand
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Human Rights Commission, Race Relations Commissioner pays tribute to Tom Newnham
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New Zealand History Online, The 1981 Springbok rugby tour, A country divided
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New Zealand History Online, The 1981 Springbok rugby tour, A country divided
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King country game and even one Māori commentator stating that he was abused.
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Because of this policy many of New Zealand's greatest Māori players, such as
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South Africa, with five Maori players and one of Samoan origin. After the
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Rugby union, Andy Haden stands by 'racism' claim at Canterbury Crusaders
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New Zealand History Online; Stopping the 1973 tour - 1981 Springbok tour
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New Zealand History Online; All-white All Blacks leave for South Africa
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New Zealand Herald, Rawiri Taonui: Time to tackle rugby's dirty secret
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New Zealand Herald, Rawiri Taonui: Time to tackle rugby's dirty secret
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www.stuff.co.nz, Sunday Star Times, Richard Boock; She'll be white bro
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New Zealand Herald, Rawiri Taonui: Time to tackle rugby's dirty secret
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www.stuff.co.nz, Super rugby, Crusaders deny racial selection policy
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www.stuff.co.nz, Super rugby, Crusaders deny racial selection polic
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New Zealand Herald, Rugby World Cup: Racism rears its ugly head
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New Zealand Herald, Rugby World Cup: Racism rears its ugly head
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telegraph sent back to South Africa by a journalist stated;
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All Blacks Supporters Club, NZ PM slams rugby racism claim
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Although there were issues surrounding all the tours, the
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www.3news.co.nz, Crusaders deny 'racist' selection policy
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was made to the Human Rights Commission over the matter.
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New Zealand History Online; Politics and sport don't mix
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www.stuff.co.nz, Waaka I'm going back home to my people
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tvnz.co.nz, racial taunts against Pat Lam appalling Tew
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New Zealand History Online; Cavaliers rugby tour, 1986
137:, an organisation that shared many members with HART. 200: 179:was one rebel tour by an unofficial team named the 785: 140: 479:Sport, Cultures, and Identities in South Africa 243: 252: 153:did not sanction New Zealand in regard to the 55: 769:Clash Between Protesters and Police in 1981 223:Racial criticism of Pat Lam and the Blues 187: 475: 115: 265: 786: 774:History of the New Zealand Rugby Union 83:an anti-racist rugby tour group named 779:New Zealand Human Rights Commission 688:www.taipeitimes.com, Sport Archives 50:United Nations Human Rights Council 13: 205:In 2010 it was suggested that the 192:New Zealand has five teams in the 130:South African Rugby Football Union 14: 825: 762: 476:Nauright, John (1 January 1997). 201:Crusaders racial selection policy 747: 736: 725: 714: 703: 692: 681: 667: 656: 645: 631: 620: 609: 598: 587: 576: 565: 554: 543: 532: 521: 496: 469: 458: 447: 436: 814:Sports scandals in New Zealand 425: 414: 403: 392: 365: 340: 315: 306: 281: 1: 274: 141:1976 Tour and Olympic Boycott 94: 244:Racism and grass roots rugby 160: 85:Halt All Racist Tours (HART) 7: 253:Racism in high school rugby 126:Halt All Racist Tours(HART) 74:, it was the policy of the 56:Rugby tours of South Africa 10: 830: 799:Rugby union in New Zealand 504:"African Activist Archive" 59: 29:2011 Rugby World Cup final 809:Rugby union and apartheid 804:Rugby union controversies 62:Rugby union and apartheid 46:Universal Periodic Review 34:1981 tour by South Africa 19:is the national sport of 508:africanactivist.msu.edu 145:In 1976 the All Blacks 76:New Zealand Rugby Union 42:Super Rugby competition 674:http://www.stuff.co.nz 188:Super Rugby and racism 794:Racism in New Zealand 116:Halt All Racist Tours 348:"Politics and sport" 323:"Politics and sport" 266:Racism at club level 155:1976 Summer Olympics 638:The Daily Telegraph 489:978-0-7185-0072-6 482:. A&C Black. 352:nzhistory.govt.nz 327:nzhistory.govt.nz 124:formed the group 821: 756: 751: 745: 740: 734: 729: 723: 718: 712: 707: 701: 696: 690: 685: 679: 671: 665: 660: 654: 649: 643: 635: 629: 624: 618: 613: 607: 602: 596: 591: 585: 580: 574: 569: 563: 558: 552: 547: 541: 536: 530: 525: 519: 518: 516: 514: 500: 494: 493: 473: 467: 462: 456: 451: 445: 440: 434: 429: 423: 418: 412: 407: 401: 396: 390: 389: 387: 385: 376:. 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Index

Rugby union
New Zealand
All Blacks
2011 Rugby World Cup final
1981 tour by South Africa
apartheid
Super Rugby competition
Universal Periodic Review
United Nations Human Rights Council
Rugby union and apartheid
apartheid
South Africa
New Zealand Rugby Union
Māori
Halt All Racist Tours (HART)
1981 tour
George Nēpia
John Minto
Halt All Racist Tours(HART)
South African Rugby Football Union
CARE
toured
IOC
1976 Summer Olympics
1981 Tour
Cavaliers
Super Rugby
Crusaders
Andy Haden
John Key

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