item details
NameSpringbok rugby tour protest in Auckland
ProductionAllan Cumming; photographer; 12 September 1981; New Zealand
Classificationgelatin silver prints, black-and-white prints
Materialssilver, photographic gelatin, photographic paper
Materials SummaryBlack and white photograph, gelatin silver print
Techniquesblack-and-white photography
DimensionsImage: 253mm (width), 203mm (height)
Registration NumberO.050894
Credit lineGift of Allan Cumming, 2021
Overview
This photograph shows a chaotic scene of smoke, protesters and police, with injured protesters being attended to by medical volunteers on the day of the last rugby test of the Springbok Tour on 12 September 1981 in Auckland.
The Springbok Rugby Tour of 1981 was a seminal event in New Zealand's political and social history - exposing deep rifts in society. Many New Zealanders objected to the tour because of South Africa's policy of racial apartheid, and many questioned racism at home. Protests caused obstruction and the cancellation of games, and violence escalated between protesters, supporters and police during the tour.