New Zealand Opposition to Apartheid http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1971_35 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org New Zealand Opposition to Apartheid Alternative title Notes and Documents - United Nations Centre Against ApartheidNo. 36/71 Author/Creator United Nations Centre against Apartheid; Newnham, Tom Publisher Department of Political and Security Council Affairs Date 1971-08-00 Resource type Reports Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa, New Zealand Coverage (temporal) 1971 Source Northwestern University Libraries Description This paper on New Zealand opposition to apartheid is the fifth in a series prepared in pursuance of a request by the Special Committee on Apartheid to publicize anti-apartheid activities around the world. Previous publications include: "Scandinavian opposition to apartheid". No. 23/70; "Irish opposition to apartheid". No. 3/71; "World against apartheid", No. 10/71; and "Netherlands opposition to apartheid". No. 31/71. Format extent 12 page(s) (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1971_35 http://www.aluka.org NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* N37 ZPALAND OPPOSITION TO APATe D by Tom fAPR 2 i972 Tr; *".An E ote: This paper on New Zealand opposition to apartheid is the fifth in a series prepared in pursuance of a request by the Special Committee on Ujz eid tO publicize anti-apartheid activities around the world. Previous publications include: "Scandinavian opposition to apartheid", No. 23/70; "Irish opposition to a , No. 3/71; "Wforld against apartheid", No. 10/71; and "Netherlands Opposition to apartheid", No. 31/71. Mr. Newnham is the Secretary of the New Zealand Citizens' Association fqr Placial Equality (CWRE), which has been active in opposing sporting contacts with Mcially selected South African teams and in favour of the implementation of United Nations resolutions on apartheid. A former high school teacher and teachers' 002.ege lecturer, he is now educational editor for a large publishing firm. He is tie author of numerous social studies texts for high schools, several of which have been translated into other languages. The opinions expressed are those of the author.7 *All material In these notes and documents may be freely reprinted. Ackrowledgement, together with a copy of the publication containing the reprint, would be appreciated. lio. 36/71 August 1973. NEW'T ZEALAND OPPOSITION TO APARTHEID Although the anti-apartheid movement in New Zealand is strong and is growing vigorously, it has to contend with both apathy and deep-seated pro-apartheid sentiment. As one of the most famous present-day New Zealanders, Sir Edmund Hillary, said recently: "New Zealand is unfortunately one of the few countries where South African apartheid can be supported without causing a public outcry or political suicide. While we pride ourselves on our race relations at hcme we directly or indirectly support the policies of the South African Government. New Zealanders have, of course,been fairly extensively brainwashed by South Africa to attain direct or indirect support for apartheid, and we seem to have responded as Soutn Africa intended." 1/ Another eminent national figure, the Ombudsman, Sir Guy Powles, put it another way three years ago when he spoke to the Wellingtoh Teachers' College on November 8, 1968: "There is one thing that I do not think we understand in New Zealand very much. I do not think we realize the extent, the depth, and the strength, and the bitterness of the feelings of all the Coloured peoples of the world about this principle of gartheid. Earlier this year I went away travelling round the world, and I did come to feel that New Zealand was out of the main stream of world thought and opinion, wrapped up in itself, away down in the South Pacific, getting along rather nicely, thank you, and not really aware of what the world is thinking." Colonial past To seek reasons for this unfortunate state of affairs we must look into the historical backgrounds of both New Zealand and South Africa, where we find evidence of similar colonial experiences. In both countries an indigenous non-white population has been confronted by European migrant settlers who have assumed power following a period of interaction which has involved armed conflict. The natives have lost control of most of the land in both countries, but in New Zealand where they number today less than 10% of the total population they have legal and political, l/ Sir Edmund Hillary, speaking to the annual meeting of Volunteer Service Abroad. Star, Auckland, July 5, 1971. ,?/ Personal communication to the author. July 22, 1971. 71-1621o0 - 2 if not economic and full social, equality. In South Africa, where the white/non- white ratio is roughly the reverse, with the whites outnumbered by about seven to one, the non-whites have been stripped of every basic human right as well as most of the land. Propaganda for apartheid Many white New Zealanders frankly express the opinion that if they wer outnumbered in their country as the whites are in South Africa, then they would seriously consider apartheid as a way of life for New Zealand. The South African Consul-General tirelessly moves around the country addressing meetings and by implication he makes the same point: "Apartheid...is a fair, just solution to the problem of different races living in the same geographic area... numbers are critical...population ratio has an important bearing on the subject, thus race problems only appeared in the United Kingdom when population ratio rose above a critical level." 5/ This is the sort of brainwashing referred to by Sir Edmund Hillary, which has been so effective. Many New Zealanders feel that the South African Consulate in Wellington should be closed in conformity with United Nations resolutions. Others, including the New Zealand Race Relations Council, have called for the Government to warn the Consulate to confine itself strictly to its diplomatic functions 3_/. Humanitarianism Both New Zealand and South Africa were influenced by the powerful humanitarian movement which influenced British colonial policy in the last century, but whereas equality has become the basis of New Zealand race relationships, white supremacy has won out in South Africa. Yet, as Professor M.P.K. Sorrenson points out: "Though New Zealandts race policies in the twentieth century have proceeded in the opposite direction (from South Africa's), New Zealand opinion has been slow to react to the growing inhumanity of South Africa's race discrimination." 5/ Even the Chairman of the New Zealand Maori Council, Sir Turi Carroll, when speaking in support of the proposed New Zealand Rugby tour of South Afri in 1970 to play against an all-white South African team, said: 3/ Address to Wellington Rotary Club. Dominion, February 2, 1971. Also address to Gore Tin Hat Club, Mataura Ensign, February 23, 1971, and numerous other occasions. 4/ New Zealand Race Relations Council Annual Conference, Christchurch, February 1971. 5/ A Survey of Ne Zealand's Relationships with Southern Africa, M.P.K. Sorrenson. New Zealand Race Relations Council, P.O. Box 3883, Welling - 3 "It has taken the Maori 100 years to get where we are in our own country. As far as South Africa is concerned, it may take another 200 years." 6/ This statement was hotly contested by other Maori leaders but nevertheless the New Zealand Haori Counci, which is the most prestigious Maori organization in the country,did not disassociate itself from this view nor alter its support for the tour. S portinp, contacts with South Africa A common sporting tTadition between the two countries is, in fact, another historical accident which has been very important in shaping current New Zealand attitudes to South Africa. Contacts have been mainly in rugby football and cricket, but more recently in a wide range of sports as South Africans have found other opportunities restricted because of the United Nations boycott. In both countries, rugby assumes such an important role in the daily life of the people that it has been referred to as a religion. It is commonly accepted in both countries that they compete for the "World Rugby Crown" although in fact on many occasions both the Springboks and the All Blacks have been defeated by other countries. Until 1970, non-white rugby players were excluded from the periodic rugby internationals between New Zealand and South Africa. As Sorrenson states: "The fact that Maoris were excluded on grounds of race, solely to conform to the conventions of segregated sport in South Africa, did not arouse any widespread expression of dissatisfaction in New Zealand. It was considered far more important to continue the contest for rugby supremacy, even though New Zealand's teams to South Africa were not fully reoresentative." 7/ 1960 All Black tour protest In the quotation above, Professor Sorrenson is referring to the period before 1959.