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This year marks the 40th anniversary of the controversial Springbok rugby tour that divided the country, and a new book is helping young New Zealanders to understand the issues that made it so divisive. It's from former teacher-turned-author Anne Kayes, and starts out in March 2020 under lockdown when the main character, Liza, tries to explain to her children what a fraught time it was in 1981.
The story is told in flashbacks to 15-year-old Liza, and Anne says she leaned on some of her own memories and experiences of the time, as well as extensive research and interviews with activists, including John Minto. The result, In Our Own Back Yard, is a snapshot of New Zealand society at two pivotal moments - pandemic and Tour.
