There were many organisations that were anti-tour, both local and national. Many came under the umbrella organisation of HART, and included CARE and NAAC. It also included other localised groups that organised protests in their centres.
Halt All Racist Tours (HART) was a group that was established in 1969 by John Minto, Trevor Richards, Dick Cuthbert and others to protest against tours to and from South Africa on the grounds of the racist policies put into place by the South African government. HART was established to protest against the proposed 1970 tour, and continued until the dismantling of apartheid policy in the 1990s.
In 1973, HART made it clear that a campaign of civil disruption would be put into action if the proposed Springbok tour of New Zealand went ahead that year. Norman Kirk, Labour Prime Minister at the time, cancelled the tour, which led to lengthy debate on how intertwined politics and sport should be.
In 1980, HART merged with the National Anti-Apartheid Council, becoming HART:NAAM.
The 1981 protests were by far the most extreme, in which thousands of New Zealanders took part in civil disobedience in the form of protests, invading pitches and the like. HART was not the main leader in the 1981 protests, as different organisations were set up in each area to organise protest; but members and leaders of HART played key roles in these organisations.
The Citizens Association for Racial Equality (CARE) also gained prominence in its opposition to the tour. It was founded in 1964, and was involved in protest against the 1970 Tour and was also part of campaigning for racial equality around New Zealand, like opposing the confiscation of Maori land.
Tom Newnham was CARE’s secretary from 1966 and helped organise nationwide protest against a proposed tour of South Africa by an all-white All Black team in 1967. The pressure on the government to stop the tour meant that the 1967 tour was cancelled.
FUN FACT:
The batons that police frequently and violently used to stop protestors were eventually christened the ‘Minto Bar’ after John Minto.
Halt All Racist Tours (HART) was a group that was established in 1969 by John Minto, Trevor Richards, Dick Cuthbert and others to protest against tours to and from South Africa on the grounds of the racist policies put into place by the South African government. HART was established to protest against the proposed 1970 tour, and continued until the dismantling of apartheid policy in the 1990s.
In 1973, HART made it clear that a campaign of civil disruption would be put into action if the proposed Springbok tour of New Zealand went ahead that year. Norman Kirk, Labour Prime Minister at the time, cancelled the tour, which led to lengthy debate on how intertwined politics and sport should be.
In 1980, HART merged with the National Anti-Apartheid Council, becoming HART:NAAM.
The 1981 protests were by far the most extreme, in which thousands of New Zealanders took part in civil disobedience in the form of protests, invading pitches and the like. HART was not the main leader in the 1981 protests, as different organisations were set up in each area to organise protest; but members and leaders of HART played key roles in these organisations.
The Citizens Association for Racial Equality (CARE) also gained prominence in its opposition to the tour. It was founded in 1964, and was involved in protest against the 1970 Tour and was also part of campaigning for racial equality around New Zealand, like opposing the confiscation of Maori land.
Tom Newnham was CARE’s secretary from 1966 and helped organise nationwide protest against a proposed tour of South Africa by an all-white All Black team in 1967. The pressure on the government to stop the tour meant that the 1967 tour was cancelled.
FUN FACT:
The batons that police frequently and violently used to stop protestors were eventually christened the ‘Minto Bar’ after John Minto.