GA/AP/600, 29 September 1976
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), met today with the Chairman of the New Zealand delegation to the thirty-first session of the General Assembly, Sir Keith Holyoake, to consult on the problem of apartheid in sports in South Africa.
Mr. Harriman recalled that the Special Committee had on several occasions in the past, commended the Government and people of New Zealand for their opposition to apartheid. It commended them particularly for their tradition of non-racialism in the practice of sport in their country.
The Special Committee had been concerned that since the development of the boycott of South African sports teams selected on the basis of racial discrimination and segregation, South Africa has tried to strengthen its sporting links with a few countries, among them New Zealand, and that many New Zealand sports administrators had responded to its overtures. It had, therefore, appealed to New Zealand to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions.
The former Chairman of the Special Committee visited New Zealand in September 1974 to commend the Government and people of New Zealand for their cooperation. He took the occasion to express the earnest hope of the Special Committee that the question of sporting contacts with South Africa would cease to be a partisan matter in New Zealand.
In December 1975, the Chairman of the Special Committee formally renewed the appeal, through the Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations and expressed the hope for continued cooperation.
The Special Committee, however, has been seriously concerned over the attitude of New Zealand since that time. The Chairman wished to make special reference to the participation of South Africa in the International Softball Tournament in January-February 1976; the inauguration of that tournament by the Governor-General; and the tour of the New Zealand "All Blacks" rugby team to South Africa, which happened to take place shortly after the Soweto massacre. Many countries felt obliged to boycott the softball tournament, as well as to boycott the Montreal Olympics in protest against the rugby tour.
In his own statement prior to the Olympics he had stated: "It is indeed painful to take action against New Zealand, a country which has a tradition of non-racialism in sports and in which many organizations and individuals, including sportsmen, have demonstrated their opposition to apartheid and racism."
Mr. Harriman wished to convey again the earnest hope of the Special Committee that the New Zealand Government would see its way to review its position. He was confident that the Government and people of New Zealand were sensitive to the strength of feeling demonstrated by many friendly countries, and are aware that the South African regime and its supporters have seen sporting contacts as a weakening of the world-wide abhorrence of apartheid.
Recalling with appreciation the letter addressed to him by the Foreign Minister of New Zealand on 22 June 1976, reaffirming New Zealand's opposition to apartheid, Mr. Harriman expressed the hope that the New Zealand Government would see its way to reaffirm its total opposition to apartheid in sports and its respect for the relevant United Nations resolutions. He requested, in particular, that the New Zealand Government commend the United Nations resolutions to the sporting bodies, deny any financial grants or other facilities for sporting exchanges with South Africa, and refrain from any form of official involvement in such exchanges.
Sir Keith Holyoake welcomed the opportunity of his meeting with Mr. Harriman to seek to remove misconceptions and misunderstandings which seem to have arisen in regard to New Zealand's relations with South Africa, in particular to sports contacts with South African teams.
New Zealand has no diplomatic or other representation in South Africa and has relatively little trade with that country. It has opposed the supply of arms to South Africa. In particular, the New Zealand Government and people have consistently and vehemently opposed the apartheid policy of the South African Government. In New Zealand racial equality is not only the policy of the Government, but the practice of the people. New Zealand has ratified the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and complies conscientiously with its provisions.
Sport in New Zealand is, as the Special Committee has recognized, completely multi-racial. Sports bodies in New Zealand are autonomous organizations wholly free from Government control and do not depend on the Government for financial support. It is the Government's policy not to interfere in their affairs.
The Government does not therefore seek to dictate to New Zealand sports bodies what teams they should or should not play against. It does, however, deplore the selection of any team in any country on a basis other than merit. It notes the concern expressed by the Special Committee about contacts with South African teams selected on a racial basis and will draw the attention of New Zealand sports bodies to the relevant United Nations resolutions. The Government does not welcome, encourage or give official recognition to… except on the basis other than merit.