Tai Tokerau back rugby tour

The Tai Tokerau District Maori Council on Friday again supported the All Black tour to South Africa in the light of assurances from the Prime Minister, Mr. Vorster, that Maori players would be welcomed.

Mr. T. Heperi said that he had read remarks by Mr. M. Rata M.P. that the All Black team should not go to South Africa because the Prime Minister, Mr. Vorster, was not even allowing its own people to be in a visiting sports team.

“So far as I am concerned these are the internal affairs of another country. They have accepted that Maoris, if good enough, will be included in our team, and that is good enough for me,” said Mr. Heperi.

“We have in the past discussed whether Maoris should be included in the team, and we have supported that. If Maoris are excluded a team should not be sent.” Mr. J. King said that the coloured cricketer, D’Oliveira, was as good a man as a Maori, but it appeared that South Africa would not impose a similar ban on New Zealanders.

“The Rugby Union has said that if a man is good enough he would be picked, but I would not like to be one of those Maoris. Ralph Love and Pat Walsh came back with a glowing report, and so all may be well, but I wish any Maoris who go the best of luck,” said Mr. King.

“Mr. Vorster said that Maoris would be welcomed, after we asked that they should be included,” said Mr. G. Latimer, the secretary.

“One of the greatest assets of the Maori is that when anything comes from the heart you accept it. Apparently this offer has come from Mr. Vorster’s heart because of his love of football, and are we now to turn round and slap him on the face for his generosity?

“So far as D’Oliveira is concerned, I think pressure was brought to bear to include him.

“To turn round and be discourteous is not one of the Maori habits.

“All over the world coloured people are watching to see what will happen to our team — in other words, the Maori has challenged for the coloured races and should not back down now,” added Mr. Latimer.

“Another thing in South Africa’s favour — I have never known them to dictate to any country when they visit it with a sports team. When they come to New Zealand they live our way. When in Rome do as Rome does, and we don’t want to bring Rome back to New Zealand!

“We may make a breakthrough on apartheid here, and even if we fail we can say we have tried,” added Mr. Latimer.

“It would be a challenge not only to us but to the selectors as well. We must not help the agitators.”

Mr. King said that there was also the question of spectators. Mr. Vorster had said nothing about them.

Some doubts

Apply for entry

“There is a legal way to apply for entry to a country, and to my knowledge no one has yet made the application. If I had the money I would apply myself — but no dough, no go,” said Mr. Latimer.

“If our men are picked they will be the first coloured people to go, and we should be proud of it,” said Mr. Heperi.

The meeting agreed to support a New Zealand team to South Africa with the inclusion of Maori players.

— October 8, 1968