Anti-tour Protests Peaceful (Press, 4 May 1985)

On 4 May 1985, thousands of protesters in New Zealand took to the streets to demonstrate against the South African rugby tour, marking a significant mobilization against the controversial visit. In Wellington, estimates of the crowd size varied, with organisers claiming around 25,000 participants, while police reported approximately 16,000. The peaceful march took around 26 minutes to pass a single point, with only one arrest made for disorderly conduct. The participants included a diverse group, with families, children, and disabled individuals, contrasting the more aggressive atmosphere of the 1981 Springbok tour, as no protective gear was seen among the demonstrators. Auckland also witnessed significant turnout, with crowd estimates ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 marching down Queen Street. The police maintained a visible presence at key locations, such as the Auckland Savings Bank, without incident, although there were minor disruptions caused by attempts to vandalize petitions related to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. In Dunedin, about 4,000 people participated in a peaceful march, twice the number from a similar protest in 1981. This group included children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Police kept their presence discreet, and the march concluded without any serious incidents, despite some jeers from hotel patrons along the route. Palmerston North saw around 3,000 marchers, and while the protest was mainly peaceful, a few individuals faced disruption from egg-throwing by bystanders near a cinema. Invercargill had a smaller group of 200 anti-tour demonstrators, who were countered by 100 supporters. Incidents of egg-throwing occurred again, and two arrests were made for disorderly behaviour. Levin had about 400 participants in a march organized by a local Presbyterian minister in support of the anti-tour sentiment. Meanwhile, in Nelson, approximately 1,500 people joined a march led by an effigy of "Ces Blazey and his 18 guilty men," indicating the strength of public opinion against the tour. This marked the largest protest in Nelson in several years, with participation exceeding the numbers seen during protests in 1981. The demonstrators marched silently and concluded with speeches and a street performance at the Church Steps, reflecting the widespread and organized resistance to the South African team's presence in New Zealand.

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