-
Period: to
1981
-
The 4th World Veteran Games
HART (Halt All Racist Tours) announces that it will protest the presence of South African athletes at this event. Non-violent demonstrators are attacked by athletes and arrested. -
May 1 Mobilisation
May 1 was chosen for the first really large anti-tour demonstration of the tour. The organisers hoped a huge turn out on may 1 would convince the government to change its mind but the government took no notice of the tens of thousands who turned out.. -
Soweto Day
To mark the 5th anniversary of the massacre of black South African school students in 1976, the anti aparthei movement in Christchurch occupied the offices of the Rugby Union in Manchester St. 12 people were arrested but discharged without conviction. -
Tent City in Latimer Sq
The next major national demonstrations took place on July 3. In Christchurch it was decided to set up a tent city in Latimer Sq to raise the profile of the campaign with passing Christchurch residents. The space was occupied for the weekend as a symbolic act. -
Rugby Union Offices reoccupied
Four people enter the Rugby Union office in manchester St again, and pour their own blood onto the walls, floor , doors and counter. They then chain themselves to scaffolding that had been erected outside for another purpose. They declarethe offices to be the Embassy of free, black-ruled South Africa. -
Pioneer Stadium
Prime Minister Robert "Piggie" Muldoon attended a tennis match, so an ad-hoc group, "People Incensed with Gross Government Ineptitude" (PIGGIE) was formed. Not long before, a car bearing a government minister had hit a protester, so in this action, dummies representing black South Africans and the Gleneagles agreement were thrown in front of the Prime Minister's car. -
Gisborne: The first match of the tour
The Springbok tour started in Gisborne. The protest movement's objective of attempting to invade the pitches and prevent the games taking place became apparent. The protesters were unable to enter the grounds. In Christchurch, the demonstrators tore down a fence into Lancaster Park (now AMI Stadium), but went no further. -
July 25 Hamilton
Hamilton - demonstrators invade the pitch and the match, which is being screened live in South Africa, is called off. A march in Christchurch stops at Latimer Sq (the site of the July 3 tent city occupation) and the crowd eagerly hears the news of the game's cancellation. Protesters start receiving death threats. -
August 11 Dunedin
A mass arrest of 125 people in Hereford St as the campaign to stretch police and justice system resources gathers pace. -
The 1st Test, Christchurch August 15th
A few protesters get through security checks and enter the park as spectators. They run onto the pitch and are beaten by the police. One young woman has her cheek bone smashed by a police baton. A huge demonstration attempts to break into the grounds from outside but is beaten back by the Red and Blue riot squads. -
August 29 Wellingtion Test
Bridges are blocked at New Brighton and Ferrymead. 168 arrests. -
National Party Office Occupied
The Police routinely guarded the Rugby Union, Air New Zealand and National Party offices whenever a demonstration was planned, so it was decided to pay a visit the following morning. A small group "visited" the National Party Offices and rapidly turned the visit into an occupation. -
The Final Test Auckland, Sept 12
The organisers of the tour chose to play the final test match on the anniversary of the murder in police custody of black rights organiser Steve Biko. The anti-apartheid movement dubbed the day "The Day of Rage". In Auckland, frayed tempers result in open confrontation with the police. In Christchurch, Lancaster Park is left wide open and the demonstrators walk in. The tour is over.
