Who protested in the 1981 springbok tour?

Answer 1

The 1981 springbok tour to New Zealand resulted in huge demonstrations by many people in New Zealand. The country was divided in two; many people took to the streets in protest at the continuing state of apartheid in South Africa and believed that sporting links with this country represented support for it's racist regime. Rugby grounds were layed siege to and demonstrations turned violent as protesters clashed with riot police and rugby supporters. One match, the Sprinkboks vs Waikato, was called off after the pitch was invaded by protesters and very ugly scenes resulted as rugby fans attacked the demonstrators in the middle of the field. During the final test in Auckland a light plane was used to bomb the field with packets of flour, one of them felling All Black prop, Gary Knight. Two organisations that were involved in the protests were: H.A.R.T (Halt All Racist Tours) and C.A.R.E (Citizens Association for Racial Equality). The 1981 Springbok tour polarised the country and left scars that would not be healed until the World Cup in 1987.