Rugby Tour Talk (Press, 16 May 1987)

On 16 May 1987, various letters to the editor were published, reflecting a strong public reaction to New Zealand's sporting ties with South Africa amid its apartheid policies. Isabel Witty expressed dismay over reminders of South Africa's apartheid system, describing it as a refusal to acknowledge mixed marriage and portraying New Zealanders negatively as supporters of such an oppressive regime. She highlighted the uncomfortable truth about a New Zealand man who chose to live in Botswana with his black wife to escape South Africa’s racial laws. Another letter from Ted Mulcock critiqued the television documentary titled “Apartheid,” which depicted the exploitation of African workers in South Africa's gold and diamond mines, likening it to the cruel practices of the historical slave trade in the United States. Mulcock wrestled with the question of whether New Zealand could participate in sports without facing moral conflicts due to South Africa’s brutal policies. He argued that while the New Zealand Parliament had modernised certain laws, it was still essential to respect individuals' rights and that discussions around sporting contacts with South Africa should not occur without consideration of the moral implications. H. Jones condemned other commentators for their defence of the New Zealand Rugby Union and its players who toured South Africa, calling into question the integrity of the Rugby Union, especially in light of the controversial “Cavaliers” tour. Upset by the team’s actions and the subsequent nomination of one player as captain of the All Blacks, Jones labelled the union and its players as lacking regard for human rights and suggested they should be remembered unfavourably in history. D. T. Archbold directed criticism at Prime Minister David Lange, arguing that his stance against a member of the Royal Family attending the Rugby World Cup was hypocritical. Archbold accused Lange of alienating New Zealand's allies—namely the United States, Britain, and Australia—while seeking legitimacy through selective moral indignations. He suggested that Lange should focus on effective governance rather than engaging in what he described as moral posturing. These letters encapsulate a contentious debate in New Zealand regarding sports, morality, and international relations during a time when the country's participation in events involving South African teams, particularly in rugby, was under scrutiny against the backdrop of apartheid legislation. The societal divide illustrated in these opinions reflects broader concerns about national identity, morality, and the complexities of sporting interactions with nations governed by oppressive regimes.

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