Hiwi Tauroa stands by decision

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 38

Hiwi Tauroa stands by decision

PA , i ■ Auckland ' The Race Relations Conciliator, Mr Hiwi Tauroa, yesterday . stood by his decision to seek the job of All Black i coach for a Springbok tour — that he says he does not want! togo ahead. Mr Tauroa defended his position in spite of a call from the Labour member of Parliament for Wanganui, Mr Russell Marshall, that he resign. : ) The two jobs were diametrically opposed, said Mr Marshall < yesterday. ‘ “No one can play with apartheid and>claim to oppose jt,at the same time,” Mr Marshall said. V ' “How can Mr Tauroa claim to oppose apartheid and work toward bringing racial harmony fo New

Zealand, and on the other hand offer to align himself with the forces of apartheid by coaching the All Black team against the Springboks?” Mr Marshall asked. .“I am shocked and ; dismayed that a man of his mana and long experience, who should be setting an example to the community, can make such an irresponsible statement.” “Many rugby clubs have opposed the tour, and a large number of secondary schools have expressed their opposition. How can Mr Tauroa now claim to represent their views on race relations?” Mr Marshall asked; ; ; Mr Tauroa let his nomination go forward after > being asked to do so by the Poverty Bay, i Counties .

and West Coast rugby unions. “I have given it a lot of thought,” said Mr Tauroa, “I will not be really chasing the job. . There will be no lobbying.” He still opposed the tour, he said, but if the tour went ahead ■in spite of his opinion, then “it’s no use sitting in an office away from the situation.” “If the tour goes ahead, the next best thing is to get directly involved and be in a position to influence the. people (the players and officials) who are involved,” Mr Tauroa said. < “Rugby players do not just .talk rugby when they get together. They talk about politics, their jobs — all- sorts of thtags,”