Green anti-apartheid campaigner welcomes apology

The New Zealand Rugby Union’s apology to Maori players excluded from All Blacks tours to South Africa during the apartheid era is welcome, Green Party MP Keith Locke said today.

Mr Locke, the Green Party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, was a participant and organizer of anti-apartheid protests from the 1960s. Two other current Green MPs, Catherine Delahunty and Kevin Hague were also actively involved during the 1981 Springbok tour.

“This apology puts to an end a shameful chapter in the history of New Zealand rugby,” said Mr Locke.

“I appreciate the parallel apology to Maori from the South Africa Rugby Union following a request a week ago from South Africa’s sports minister Arnold Stofile.

“It shows how far we have come in race relations that this apology will be universally accepted among New Zealanders.

“The contrition will be much appreciated by those Kiwis, both Maori and non-Maori, who protested at the time. 160,000 New Zealanders signed a petition opposing the exclusion from the 1960 tour and Howard Morrison sang the famous protest song, ‘My Old Man’s an All Black’.

Pressure from the New Zealand anti-apartheid movement shifted government policy from the time of the 1960 Labour government, which had allowed the exclusion of Maori, to the Kirk Labour government, which cancelled a Springbok tour in 1973.

“Unfortunately, we had to endure another decade of racist rugby because of Robert Muldoon’s determination to continue sporting contacts with apartheid South Africa,” said Mr Locke.

“Some recognition from National and Labour of their own parties failings in dealing with the repugnant policies of apartheid-era South Africa would be useful and help in the healing process.”

Link to My Old Man’s an All Black’ lyrics
http://folksong.org.nz/myoldman.html

ENDS

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