 The 1981 South African tour to New Zealand sparked protests against South Africa 's apartheid policy the likes of which had not been seen in New Zealand since the 1951 waterfront dispute . The NZRU had invited the Springboks to tour as the Muldoon government refused to involve politics in sport . Although New Zealand won the test series , two of the tour 's provincial games were cancelled and the whole tour was marred by violence and protest . The third and final test match of the tour is sometimes known as the Flour Bomb test , as an anti @-@ apartheid activist in a Cessna light aircraft dropped leaflets , flares , a parachute @-@ supported banner reading " Biko " and flour bombs into Auckland 's Eden Park throughout the match , felling a New Zealand player . During the tour the country experienced unrest , and the tour had a significant impact on New Zealand society . 
