Role play activity - the 1981 Springbok tour - NCEA Level 1 history

Role play activity

Use the feature the 1981 Springbok tour and your own knowledge and ideas to help you complete the following tasks.

Imagine you are a journalist at a press conference given by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, in early July 1981. The NZRFU has confirmed its decision to invite the South African rugby team to tour New Zealand. In this conference you will have the opportunity to ask Robert Muldoon about his reactions to this decision and why his government has not stopped the tour by denying the South Africans visas to enter the country.

Write three questions for the prime minister about the government's decision not to stop the tour. Then, write the replies to these questions that could be expected from him. Your questions and answers should consider the prime minister's justification for not intervening and describe how the government intends to deal with the expected protest against this tour.

• A member of the class could assume the role of Robert Muldoon, and the class could select six questions to ask him. Some students could be reporters asking the questions. The remainder of the class can record the questions and answers. At the end of the conference, check the accuracy of the notes made by the class 'recorders'.
• Consider the purpose and nature of press conferences when organising your role play. Television news bulletins regularly show extracts from such conferences.