As with the 1965 Springbok Tour, Gisborne was where the 1981 Tour commenced. However, unlike the “full-scale Maori welcome at Poho O Rawiri” (4) previously, the 1981 Tour had a different feel to it. In an un-Maori turn of events, the invitations were specifically distributed only to known supporters of the Tour resulting in the exclusion of many furious Maori who took to protesting at the top of the road leading to the marae. During a break in ceremony, these Maori marched to the doors of the marae demanding entrance.
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On Monday 20th July, “a small group of protesters led by HART National Councillor Dick Cuthbert and local organiser Laurie Harrison hassled some of the Bok players at their training run … “Next morning CARE President David Williams … an advocate of imaginative, creative protest, Rhodes Scholar and rugby player, he leapt over the fence and attempted to join” (1) the Springboks. He was tackled to the ground by police metres away from the nearest player and shouted “Boks, go home!” in Maori, English and Afrikaans as he was forcibly removed from the field. Later that day, a Land Rover crashed into Rugby Park, where the game was to take place the next day. After making several “sweeps around the field” (4) and spreading broken glass everywhere, the Pakeha driver and 3 Maori women were arrested. The act and consequent arrest was unintentionally filmed by a television crew who had been there for other purposes and caught the action. At this point, the protest movement began to gather momentum. Throughout the night, enormous groups gathered outside the Sandown Park Hotel, where the Springboks were staying, “chanting and blowing high shrill whistles.” (4)
On Wednesday 22nd July, 300 anti-tour protesters gathered at Gisborne Trade Union headquarters to discuss protest movements planned for the day. “They moved first to the Springboks’ hotel where they kept up a barrage of shouts, chants and whistles, which reached a crescendo as the Boks emerged from the driveway … Next, they moved to the centre of town outside the Courthouse where Hone Ngata, Pauline McKay, Chairperson of HART and Australian Aboriginal Representative Gary Foley addressed the crowd on the theme of “New Zealand’s Day of Shame”, which was being observed all over the country and as far away as London.” (4)
On Wednesday 22nd July, 300 anti-tour protesters gathered at Gisborne Trade Union headquarters to discuss protest movements planned for the day. “They moved first to the Springboks’ hotel where they kept up a barrage of shouts, chants and whistles, which reached a crescendo as the Boks emerged from the driveway … Next, they moved to the centre of town outside the Courthouse where Hone Ngata, Pauline McKay, Chairperson of HART and Australian Aboriginal Representative Gary Foley addressed the crowd on the theme of “New Zealand’s Day of Shame”, which was being observed all over the country and as far away as London.” (4)
Maori women were very bold and vocal protesters. In the march to Rugby Park many young Maori women were seen at the front line chanting and carrying banners with words like “Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou Ake Ake Ake!” meaning “We will fight on for ever and ever and ever!” (4). The marching protesters headed around Rugby Park keeping some distance away before coming back towards it on a nearby golf course. Then, 200 metres from the fence, “the protesters stopped, linked arms and raced forward through the mud and great puddles of water. First there was a steep grass bank up which the pushed and then grabbed at the fence.” Rugby fans saw the actions of the protestor and sprang into action to keep them away from the field. A “vicious fight” broke out, with rugby fans “kicking and bashing” the protesters. Police then approached the fighting crowds with batons and assisted the rugby fans to force protesters back. Many were injured, pushed down the bank and trampled on. This went on for about an hour before protestors gave up and stopped charging. Although no one was killed, many very seriously injured, especially those trampled on.
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