Tauroa sought middle path as sides clashed in Springbok Tour

The late Hiwi Tauroa is being remembered as someone who tried to find middle ground even when the odds were against him.

Mr Tauroa, who died this week aged 91, was race relations conciliator in 1981 when the tour by a Springbok team sparked nationwide protests against South Africa’s policies of apartheid or racial separation.

Prominent protester John Minto says after the first match in Hamilton was stopped by protests, Mr Tauroa, a former Māori All Black and championship winning coach, proposed a compromise where protests would be called off in exchange for the Rugby Union shortening the tour.

"It was not acceptable to us and it wasn't acceptable to the Rugby Union. The sides by that stage were too far apart but he certainly tried to find some sort of middle ground to avoid the confrontations that were occurring," he says.

His stance put Mr Tauroa offside with people in the rugby fraternity, and he also took part in a march down Queen Street on the night before the final test in Auckland.

The funeral service for Edward Te Rangihiwinui (Hiwi) Tauroa will take place at 10am on Saturday December 15 at Te Patunga Marae in Whangaroa.

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