Khaki All Blacks

Khaki All Blacks is a television documentary that traces the links between war (Boer War to the Second World War) and rugby. This historical documentary neither glorifies nor critically analyses war or rugby, but rather provides rich footage and descriptive narration that encourages viewers to understand the events and issues of the times, empathise with the soldiers' experiences, and reflect on how cultural values shape individual and national identities. The documentary begins with the assertion that New Zealand in the 1890s was a young isolated 'colony' of Britain struggling for a sense of national identity, but that the Boer War and the successes of the 1905 All Blacks helped alleviate this dilemma by forging a proud and patriotic view of New Zealanders as strong, skilled, mentally tough, disciplined and competitive. This introduction helps viewers understand the social significance of the links between rugby and war.
The primary focus of the documentary is the role that rugby played for New Zealand soldiers during the Second World War. It more specifically examines the men's rationales for joining the war effort, the culture shock of leaving the safety of home for the horrors of the battlefield, how rugby was used during the war as a 'wholesome distraction' and morale booster, the men's reflections on their war experiences and the exploits of the Khaki All Blacks. The Khaki All Blacks was a team of representative New Zealand troops. Rather than directly returning to New Zealand after the war—despite some being away from loved ones for many years—they toured Great Britain, Germany and France for several months playing scintillating rugby. The team forged a special bond and had an impressive record of international victories. Through the poignant interviews with members from this team we come to understand the emotional cost of war (New Zealand had the second highest casualty rate per capita after the Soviet Union) and the surprisingly significant role of rugby during the War.
The purpose of this guide is to make relevant links to the Social Studies and Health and Physical Education Curriculums and their respective Achievement Standards.