He was a member of the "No Maoris, No Tour" protest movement, protesting against the All Blacks tour to South Africa in 1960. He was later blacklisted by the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC) for writing an article in the 1982 Wisden which called for South Africa be permitted to play international cricket. In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours, Hadlee was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services in the field of sport, and he was promoted to Commander of the same order, for services to cricket, in the 1978 Queen's Birthday Honours.
