In 1977 the commonwealth heads of state, a group of Prime Ministers, Presidents and other leaders of countries that belong to the commonwealth met in Auchterarder, Scotland, and agreed as a part of their support for the international campaign against Apartheid, to discourage sporting contact and competition with South Africa. New Zealand had signed this agreement termed 'the Gleneagles agreement'.
Despite this Robert Muldoon allowed the Springbok tour to proceed. Muldoon made it clear that the Government wouldn't allow any political interference in sport. This generated a huge amount of controversy surrounding the decision to allow the Springbok's to tour New Zealand. Muldoon had stated in his 1975 election campaign that he would allow the All Blacks to play South Africa, and thus wanted to stay true to his word with the future election in mind. Muldoon argued that he had not broken the Glen Eagles agreement as "New Zealand and subsequently other countries made it clear that they could not subscribe to an agreement which required them to abrogate the freedoms of their sportsmen and prohibit sporting contacts."
The Gleneagles agreement was a cause of the 1981 Springbok tour protests because of its international significance. By going against international policy, New Zealand looked like it was, in a way, condoning Apartheid. Muldoon ignored the agreement, with the mindset that he had no obligation to follow it. Many New Zealanders were surprised at how easily the Muldoon Government could so easily ignore something that it had signed, thus giving protesters the sense that they had an international backing behind them. It gave more of a view that what the New Zealand Government was doing was wrong, and that the anti-tour protesters were right in their actions.
Despite this Robert Muldoon allowed the Springbok tour to proceed. Muldoon made it clear that the Government wouldn't allow any political interference in sport. This generated a huge amount of controversy surrounding the decision to allow the Springbok's to tour New Zealand. Muldoon had stated in his 1975 election campaign that he would allow the All Blacks to play South Africa, and thus wanted to stay true to his word with the future election in mind. Muldoon argued that he had not broken the Glen Eagles agreement as "New Zealand and subsequently other countries made it clear that they could not subscribe to an agreement which required them to abrogate the freedoms of their sportsmen and prohibit sporting contacts."
The Gleneagles agreement was a cause of the 1981 Springbok tour protests because of its international significance. By going against international policy, New Zealand looked like it was, in a way, condoning Apartheid. Muldoon ignored the agreement, with the mindset that he had no obligation to follow it. Many New Zealanders were surprised at how easily the Muldoon Government could so easily ignore something that it had signed, thus giving protesters the sense that they had an international backing behind them. It gave more of a view that what the New Zealand Government was doing was wrong, and that the anti-tour protesters were right in their actions.