The number of people against the 1981 Springbok Tour was steadily increasing in New Zealand. A poll taken in May 1981 “showed that 43% of people opposed the tour, with 41% in favour. By the end of the tour the figures were 54% against and 42% for” (1). The country was divided. This lead to activism on both sides; pro-tour and anti-tour. Both groups alike took an organised approach to all protest movements, planning well before hand. “Dedicated protesters would sometimes travel great distances to be present at demonstrations… Over the eight weeks of disturbances, nearly 2000 New Zealanders were arrested. (1)” Several games were cancelled such as the second game at Hamilton due to violence and protest from both sides and the ninth game scheduled for the 19th August at Timaru due to security reasons. In one of the games in Auckland, a protester dressed as a referee ran onto the field and stole the ball while in the other, flour bombs and flares were dropped from a plane onto the field. Smaller protests were held all over the country especially occurring in cities hosting games or outside the various accommodations of the Springboks. Footage of the dissent in New Zealand was broadcasted around the world “showing a nation divided amongst itself” (1). However, it did not go in vain, as no further Rugby Tours, to or from South Africa, went ahead until the end of the apartheid system in 1990.