John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris

Date: 27 Sep 1968
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Prime Minister John Vorster said that South Africa would welcome Maoris in New Zealand rugby teams. The presence of Maoris, a non-White indigenous New Zealand population, was contrary to South Africa's policies of racial segregation in sports. John Vorster allowed the Maoris to play in this game fearing that a move to prevent them from playing would push the international rugby community to isolate South Africa from international competition. This move came at a time when international sporting bodies like the Football International Federation Association (FIFA) banned South Africa from taking part in any FIFA sponsored soccer tournament. Click here to read about the origins of rugby. Click here to read about South Africa and FIFA.

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01South African History Online, SA's Fifa membership reinstated, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 25 September 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012107

South African History Online (2011) 'John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012107 (Accessed: 18 August 2026).

South African History Online, John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012107, (accessed 18 August 2026).

"John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012107. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "John Vorster says SA will welcome Maoris." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012107.