The Springbok tour had a huge effect on New Zealand society in both the short and long term. The protests that occurred throughout the country as result of the tour represented the collision of traditional New Zealand Rugby culture with a concern for social and human rights. The tour and the reactions of the tour showed two New Zealander's; a younger liberal more outspoken one, protesting for social change. The other, slightly older upholding more conservative views and wanted the country to ultimately remain the same.
Historian Jock Phillips explains the more conservative outlook by considering the values the men in that generation would have had. They had grown in in depression and war, strongly believed in British culture, and Rugby was a central part of their lives. They strongly believed in the view that New Zealand men should be strong in terms of physical conflict, and Rugby's emphasis on this as well as teamwork aligned with their staunch right wing views. This was the typical pro-tour male, conservative men a apart of 'Rob's Mob'. The rift that the tour caused in New Zealand society meant that conservatives had to consider New Zealand in a different light. They had to consider the fact that Rugby doesn't 'over rule' everything else, and that issues would now be challenged with this new found social awareness among the liberal population of New Zealand. In 1984 Muldoon's National government was voted out and Labour was voted in by a huge majority. Massive change began to be seen in New Zealand legislation. Anti-nuclear protests and homosexual law reform protests resulted in societal change. The Springbok tour protest lay the foundations for many other protest actions about important social issues. People realized that they could take a stand against society to achieve change for the good. The long term ultimate success of the Springbok tour protests was that it raised a politically conscience generation, and a generation that fought for what was beneficial and fair for all. The tour resulted in widespread division among New Zealander's, it had turned into more than division between supporters and protesters but the difference between rural and urban New Zealand become a huge rift in society. The urban population began to take larger notice of their actions on a world scale, while rural New Zealander's were still concerned with the importance of Rugby in their lives. New Zealand had seen itself in civil uproar, never before seen on a scale this large before, the country was still bitterly divided after the tour. Key Ideas:The Springbok tour protests had a huge affect on New Zealand society. The protests caused a social divide within the population. The tour displayed two New Zealanders, the liberal socially aware anti-tour and conservative old fashion rural bloke. As a result of the Springbok tour protests many New Zealanders had to look at their country in a new light and learn to respect changes made for the better. The Springbok tour protests lay the foundations for many other protests movements in the future which were able to accomplish many relevant social law reforms still affecting us to this day. As a result of the tour a politically conscience generation was raised helping our society look at wider social, political and economic issues around the world.
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