Primary Sources in New Zealand (Taken from "56 DAYS, A History of the Anti-Tour Movement In Wellington)
Primary Source One
'My family are very rugby orientated; my growing up was weekends with rugby.'
"I knew that i had to make a decision whether i was for or against the tour and am i going to be actively for that decisions. I knew straight away what the family's stand would be; I knew that there would be some conflict within the family- I didn't want to face what would come out of it.
The question was directly put to me, "Are you going to go on marches?" and i just said "yes." There wasn't a concern for me and my safety, and my reason why- it was seen as an irresponsible action. I realized to cope with it, I would just have to keep away.
Family's still pretty strained. Do i just keep myself apart, do I map an effort to go back there, not pretending that things haven't happened? The family's reaction is to laugh about it, to patch it up, but I haven't allowed that to happen."
Public Servant, 27, Pakeha
This primary source shows how deep the divide in New Zealand society was. It went even as far as causing tension between family members who felt strongly about either point of view.
Primary Source Two
'I've thought about it long and hard and I decided I can no longer maintain my pacifist stance, it's just unrealistic'
"I didn't go on the May 1st Mobilisation because I hadn't made up my mind that protesting against the tour was a valid way of protesting against apartheid in South Africa. By July 3rd I'd decided that it probably was, but I was very unsure of myself and quite scared of going on any of the protest. I went on the Day of Shame march and was very impressed by the discipline and organization and that made me feel a bit better about things. My commitment then was that I would go on marches but wouldn't take part in anything that might involve violence. I would't take part in sit-downs at that stage.
It was Molesworth Street that changed my commitment. The emotions I went though then changed my feelings about the anti-apartheid movement and about politics in general. It was that fact that we were peaceful protesters, just walking along the street, which I know is a crime, but it's not the sort of crime you expect to be battened for. I was so frightened that I thought I couldn't continue in the march. I sat and crated and then decided that I couldn't live with myself unless I joined the march again. Then I went through that incredible fright outside Waring Taylor Street.
That evening I realized that everything I'd taken for granted about New Zealand was just not true; that the police were not there to protect me, they were there to protect what the state was saying. Once I'd start questioning the role of the police I started questioning a lot of other things as well. Things that I'd learnt at university actually became real to me. I understood what it was like to be on the receiving end of oppression. Since then I've done a lot of reading and talking about Black liberation struggles and about power struggles in New Zealand, and I intend to carry on doing that.
After Molesworth Street I went to Palmerston North. It was a trust building exercise for me to see if the marshals did what they said they were going to do; to keep it a peaceful protest. I went to a COST plenary and was really impressed with the democratic organization. At that point I decided to help out in any way I could. I started leaf-letting, helping out in the office. The night before the Test in Wellington I was one of the people who stayed in the COST office. Personally, I think it was the bravest thing I did throughout the tour. It was a very unnerving night and by the time the day of the set came, well, being battened would have been just one of those things!
I had worked as a Court social worker for the DSW, very much involved in liaison with the police. I had seen undoubted examples of police brutality on kids, but I saw the police as individuals-my brother-in-law is a policeman. I've become far more distrusting of individual police but it was seeing them not much as crime prevention officers but as agents of the State that changed my mind. For the first time I've been exposed to what other people like Maoris and Polynesians, have been exposed to all their lives. As a social worker I saw this but the violence was never against me and in my secure little world I could intellectualize it, but now when it happens to other people it happens to me.
Another thing I had to think very carefully about was the armed struggle in South Africa. Up until the tour I had very strong pacifist views, in fact I only supported COST because they took a stance of non-violence. It didn't tale me long to realize this was a tactical stance rather than a philosophical stance. I have had to think very strongly about whether I supported an armed struggle in Southern Africa says a lot about my attitude to say an armed struggle or war in New Zealand.
I've thought about it long and hard and decided a I can no longer maintain my pacifist stance, it's just unrealistic."
A twenty-six year old women, previously politically uninvolved.
This primary source is significant in showing how the tour and the protests that followed it affected individuals. It also shows how some perspectives on the law enforcers changed due to the outcomes of the protests, evidence of the serious divide that grew in society.
'My family are very rugby orientated; my growing up was weekends with rugby.'
"I knew that i had to make a decision whether i was for or against the tour and am i going to be actively for that decisions. I knew straight away what the family's stand would be; I knew that there would be some conflict within the family- I didn't want to face what would come out of it.
The question was directly put to me, "Are you going to go on marches?" and i just said "yes." There wasn't a concern for me and my safety, and my reason why- it was seen as an irresponsible action. I realized to cope with it, I would just have to keep away.
Family's still pretty strained. Do i just keep myself apart, do I map an effort to go back there, not pretending that things haven't happened? The family's reaction is to laugh about it, to patch it up, but I haven't allowed that to happen."
Public Servant, 27, Pakeha
This primary source shows how deep the divide in New Zealand society was. It went even as far as causing tension between family members who felt strongly about either point of view.
Primary Source Two
'I've thought about it long and hard and I decided I can no longer maintain my pacifist stance, it's just unrealistic'
"I didn't go on the May 1st Mobilisation because I hadn't made up my mind that protesting against the tour was a valid way of protesting against apartheid in South Africa. By July 3rd I'd decided that it probably was, but I was very unsure of myself and quite scared of going on any of the protest. I went on the Day of Shame march and was very impressed by the discipline and organization and that made me feel a bit better about things. My commitment then was that I would go on marches but wouldn't take part in anything that might involve violence. I would't take part in sit-downs at that stage.
It was Molesworth Street that changed my commitment. The emotions I went though then changed my feelings about the anti-apartheid movement and about politics in general. It was that fact that we were peaceful protesters, just walking along the street, which I know is a crime, but it's not the sort of crime you expect to be battened for. I was so frightened that I thought I couldn't continue in the march. I sat and crated and then decided that I couldn't live with myself unless I joined the march again. Then I went through that incredible fright outside Waring Taylor Street.
That evening I realized that everything I'd taken for granted about New Zealand was just not true; that the police were not there to protect me, they were there to protect what the state was saying. Once I'd start questioning the role of the police I started questioning a lot of other things as well. Things that I'd learnt at university actually became real to me. I understood what it was like to be on the receiving end of oppression. Since then I've done a lot of reading and talking about Black liberation struggles and about power struggles in New Zealand, and I intend to carry on doing that.
After Molesworth Street I went to Palmerston North. It was a trust building exercise for me to see if the marshals did what they said they were going to do; to keep it a peaceful protest. I went to a COST plenary and was really impressed with the democratic organization. At that point I decided to help out in any way I could. I started leaf-letting, helping out in the office. The night before the Test in Wellington I was one of the people who stayed in the COST office. Personally, I think it was the bravest thing I did throughout the tour. It was a very unnerving night and by the time the day of the set came, well, being battened would have been just one of those things!
I had worked as a Court social worker for the DSW, very much involved in liaison with the police. I had seen undoubted examples of police brutality on kids, but I saw the police as individuals-my brother-in-law is a policeman. I've become far more distrusting of individual police but it was seeing them not much as crime prevention officers but as agents of the State that changed my mind. For the first time I've been exposed to what other people like Maoris and Polynesians, have been exposed to all their lives. As a social worker I saw this but the violence was never against me and in my secure little world I could intellectualize it, but now when it happens to other people it happens to me.
Another thing I had to think very carefully about was the armed struggle in South Africa. Up until the tour I had very strong pacifist views, in fact I only supported COST because they took a stance of non-violence. It didn't tale me long to realize this was a tactical stance rather than a philosophical stance. I have had to think very strongly about whether I supported an armed struggle in Southern Africa says a lot about my attitude to say an armed struggle or war in New Zealand.
I've thought about it long and hard and decided a I can no longer maintain my pacifist stance, it's just unrealistic."
A twenty-six year old women, previously politically uninvolved.
This primary source is significant in showing how the tour and the protests that followed it affected individuals. It also shows how some perspectives on the law enforcers changed due to the outcomes of the protests, evidence of the serious divide that grew in society.
"By this time the Wellington game of the tour was fast approaching. I was by now quite skilled at padding my chest and shoulders, and on the day of the match, I set out wearing Mark's crash helmet. [The protesters then entered the playing field before the game, but were moved off by the police.] We finally hit the road and started back to town. On the way we passed a pub where rugby fans who hadn't been able to get into the park had been watching the match on television. They poured out of the pub and assailed us, threw beer cans, and a young Maori man spat in my face. Someone saw a man he knew behind me and lashed out with a punch. Unfortunately he missed and punched me very hard, catching me below my padding."
Sonia Davies, who was 58 when she participated in a Wellington anti-tour protest. The blow she received broke three ribs and crack two others.
This primary source is very useful in showing, from a first-hand experience, the divide in New Zealand society that game as a result of the different opinions about the tour. It also shows the violence that was occurring due to the protests, not just by the police but also by fellow New Zealanders.
Sonia Davies, who was 58 when she participated in a Wellington anti-tour protest. The blow she received broke three ribs and crack two others.
This primary source is very useful in showing, from a first-hand experience, the divide in New Zealand society that game as a result of the different opinions about the tour. It also shows the violence that was occurring due to the protests, not just by the police but also by fellow New Zealanders.