Bill Bush in the context of New Zealand Order of Merit

⭐ Core Definition: Bill Bush

William Kingita Te Pohe Bush MNZM (born 24 January 1949) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, Bush represented Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1974 to 1979. He played 37 matches for the All Blacks including 12 internationals. He also represented, coached and selected for Māori All Blacks.

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Bush was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby. In 2021 he was made a life member of New Zealand Māori Rugby Board.

↓ Menu

Bill Bush in the context of 1976 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa

In 1976 the All Blacks toured South Africa, with the blessing of the then-newly elected New Zealand Prime Minister, Rob Muldoon. Twenty-five African nations, Afghanistan, Burma, Guyana, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Syria protested against this by boycotting the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. In their view the All Black tour gave tacit support to the apartheid regime in South Africa. The five Māori players on the tour, Bill Bush, Sid Going, Kent Lambert, Bill Osborne and Tane Norton, as well as ethnic-Samoan Bryan Williams, were offered honorary white status in South Africa. Bush asserts that he was deliberately provocative toward the apartheid regime while he was there.

The All Blacks achieved a record of 18 wins and 6 losses, and they lost the test series 3–1.

View the full Wikipedia page for 1976 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa

↑ Return to Menu