’81 riots: ‘I think it could happen again’

John Minto returns to the flashpoint of the Springbok Tour and talks to Mike Mather.

Friends and families at each other’s throats, vicious mob justice in the streets, lines of helmeted policemen armed with batons and shields clubbing protesters.

The anarchic, violent scenes that accompanied the 1981 Springbok Tour could never happen again in New Zealand in this enlightened day and age, surely?

‘‘I think it could happen again,’’ muses John Minto after a moment’s thought. ‘‘But if it does happen, it will be about local issues, rather than any international issue that captivates people.

‘‘The country is deeply polarised, but these days it is polarised between rich and poor. Both National and Labour are refusing to acknowledge this, much less do anything about it – and so we are heading towards some serious social strife, in which New Zealand communities will get pitted against each other.’’

The former Halt All Racist

Tours (Hart) leader is this weekend back at the scene of what is arguably the most dramatic event in Hamilton’s history: The match at Rugby Park between the provincial Waikato side and the touring Springboks, on Saturday, July 25, 1981.

It was a match that didn’t even reach kick-off. A 2000-strong group, Minto among them, opposed to the tour on the basis that sporting contacts with South Africa condoned its raciallydivisive apartheid system, marched on the ground.

‘‘When we got there, we really expected to see a line of policemen standing between us and the stadium. But they were all inside.

‘‘I really don’t think they expected us to do it.’’

‘‘It’’ was when about 500 of the marchers, including Minto, suddenly surged forward, ripped down a perimeter fence and, after fighting their way through the crowd, formed a single mass on the pitch, surrounded by riot police.

The small occupying group were vastly outnumbered by those who had gone to Rugby Park – now FMG Stadium Waikato – to watch the much-awaited match. Many were aggrieved when news of the game’s cancellation was announced.

Some vented their frustration by attacking and beating the protesters.

Minto, still on the field, was struck by a full beer can thrown from the stand, and knocked unconscious.

After getting stitched up at Waikato Hospital he and other protest leaders were having a cup of tea at a Hamilton house when a group of rugby fans burst in and attacked them. It was just one act in a wave of violence throughout the city that night – and throughout the country as the tour continued.

‘‘It was a really traumatic period for the country ... Certainly, since the 1860s, it was the closest New Zealand has got to civil war.’’

The ire directed against him personally has receded in recent years.

‘‘Over the past decade I have only had about two people come up to me to say ‘Minto, you bastard’. That’s a lot less than it used to be.’’

Minto visited the scene of the drama on Friday afternoon with his wife Bronwen Summers. Much has changed at the venue. The point where the protesters broke through is now an interactive 84m display wall celebrating the 100-year rich history of the ground, including the ’ 81 tour. Minto said he was delighted the event was being treated with due reverence.

‘‘It had a far bigger impact than we knew at the time ... It was not until we visited South Africa in 2009 and saw for ourselves the legacy that the Hamilton match had for that country.’’

Minto is retracing the tour and attending events throughout the country to mark the 40th anniversary. It’s partly an act of remembrance, and partly to bring attention to another cause: Building support for the people of Palestine.

‘‘Both Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu said ‘Our freedom in South Africa will not be complete without the freedom of the Palestinians’.

‘‘It’s unfinished business.’’ A commemorative rally and march to mark the 40th anniversary of the Hamilton game will be held this afternoon.

Those keen to participate are invited to gather at Garden Place, as those opposed to the tour did before the match, at 1.30pm, before marching to the stadium at 2pm.

At 3pm there will be speeches at the Bronze Lounge at the venue. Among those speaking will be Minto, and fellow antitour campaigners Ripeka Evans and Michael Law.

Waikato Museum is also hosting a retrospective photography exhibition,