Seeing both sides of the argument - the 1981 Springbok tour - NCEA Level 1 history

Using the feature the 1981 Springbok tour, examine some of the different perspectives on the 1981 tour by completing the following activities.

A. Rugby administrator

It is June 1981. You are a member of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) Council. You have been asked to write a paper that will be sent to all provincial unions. This paper needs to outline why the Springbok tour must proceed despite opposition from the anti-tour movement, which is promising mass mobilisation to disrupt the tour. There has been public criticism that the NZRFU is being selfish in allowing the tour to go ahead. As there will be games in 15 different centres during the tour, the NZRFU wants to make sure that all provincial unions give the same reasons for the tour going ahead when questioned by the media.

Your task is to:

• outline the three main reasons why the NZRFU believes this tour must go ahead
• outline what the NZRFU would say if it was accused of not acting in New Zealand's best interests in allowing the tour to proceed.

B. Anti-tour protest organiser

It is June 1981. You are a member of a movement opposed to the Springbok tour. There are branches of your movement throughout the country. You have been asked to write a paper to send to all branches of your movement. This paper needs to outline why you believe the Springbok tour should not proceed, and if it does go ahead, why it must be disrupted using the strongest means possible. There has been criticism of the anti-tour movement for its stand, and some people have suggested that politics should stay out of sport. Your movement is keen to ensure all branches give the same reasons for opposing the tour when questioned by the media.

Your task is to:

• outline the three main reasons why your movement believes this tour must not go ahead
• outline what your movement would say in response to the statement that sport and politics shouldn't mix and to accusations that you are denying New Zealanders their right to watch a game of rugby.

C. Newspaper editorial

In an editorial you can express your own opinion as well as consider how people at the time might have felt.

Imagine you are the editor of a New Zealand newspaper in September 1981. The tour is over, and your newspaper is presenting a feature looking back at the events of the tour. Write an editorial, of no more than 200 words, expressing your views on whether or not the decision to go ahead with the tour was the right one for New Zealand society.

Have a look at some examples of editorials to get a sense of the style of writing.

D. Class debate

Organise a class debate on the decision to allow the 1981 tour to go ahead under the heading of 'The 1981 Springbok tour: sport and politics don't mix'.