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Resource A: New Zealand Issues and Various Points Of View

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Issue 1

1981 Springbok Tour
In 1981, the South African Springbok rugby union team was due to make a tour of New Zealand. South Africa's policy of racial apartheid (the segregation of different ethnic groups) had made the nation internationally isolated, and other countries were strongly discouraged from having sporting contacts with it. However rugby was an extremely popular sport in New Zealand, and the Springboks were considered to be New Zealand's most formidable opponents.
Should the Springboks have been allowed to tour?

By allowing the South African rugby team to tour New Zealand, we can let them see how different races can live together and share a country. If we isolate them in their own country, they will only become more determined that their way is right.
Timaru Housewife

Apartheid is a political system. It has nothing to do with sport. Probably most of the touring team may not even agree with the system. Politics should be kept out of sport and the Springboks must be allowed to tour.
Accounting Teacher, Palmerston North

If we invite the Springboks to New Zealand, we are as good as saying we have no problem with the way they are treating the indigenous peoples of South Africa and that their rugby team is selected on racist principles. What must the Māori in this country think? We must join the rest of the world in saying their policies are not acceptable.
Wellington Secondary Student

Issue 2

1975 The Land Hikoi In 1975, led by eighty year old Dame Whina Cooper, thousands of Māori from all over the country walked the length of the North Island on a symbolic march, from Te Hāpua down to the nation's capital, Wellington. In a powerful and innovative way, the land march embodied Māori protest over the ongoing loss of Māori land. Should the government of New Zealand be prevented from appropriating any more Māori land for any reason? Should Māori land that has been taken be returned?

The Māoris enjoy all the benefits of living in a modern society brought to them courtesy of the Europeans. They can't have it both ways. Anyone can have their property taken by the Government if it's in the national interest. They always get paid a fair compensation. Do the Māoris really want to keep living in the past?
Auckland Land Agent

The New Zealand government has a long history of unfair and even dishonest dealings with Māori over land right back to some very harsh confiscations during the New Zealand wars. Take the land in Raglan, generously lent by Māori for an airfield during the war and not returned afterwards but made into a golf course. It's high time Māori said, "Enough is enough!"
History Lecturer, Canterbury University

Issue 3

New Zealand Anti Nuclear Policy
In 1984, Prime Minister David Lange passed a law that barred nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters. The territorial sea and land of New Zealand became nuclear-free zones. After this Act was passed by the Lange Labour government, the United States government suspended its ANZUS* obligations to New Zealand, seeing New Zealand's rejection of United States Navy vessels as a betrayal of the treaty.
Should New Zealand make this stand against nuclear energy and nuclear arms?
*ANZUS: Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty

This legislation was a milestone in New Zealand's development as a nation and an important act of sovereignty, self-determination and cultural identity. We have every right to keep things we feel are potentially harmful or dangerous of out of our country.
Police Officer, Christchurch

Where's our gratitude and our good sense? If it wasn't for the Yanks we would have been overrun in the last war. And we repay them by banning their ships from our ports! We need the US of A. We have no means of protecting ourselves against invasion. I'm ashamed of this law.
Returned Serviceman, Wellington

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