Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club

John Francis AKURANGI

Date of Birth: 24th April 1970 in Hastings

Marist New Zealand Maori All Black No. 14

Position: Hooker and Prop Forward

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1998 [tour to Scotland] and 1999 [tour to Fiji] playing 5 games

Other First Class level games of note include:

- At provincial level for Auckland from 1994 to 1997 [27 games and 45 points] with Auckland being the "NPC Champions " from 1994 to 1996, and for Counties Manukau [playing from Auckland Marist] from 1998 to 2001 [39 games and 25 points].

- At "Super Rugby" level with the Blues as a member of their Squad in 1996 [although he did not play], for the Crusaders in 1997 [2 games], and for the Chiefs in 1999 [8 games and 5 points].

- Overseas, for the England Club side, the Leicester "Tigers" team in 1999-2000 [9 games].

COMMENTS:

1. Akurangi was born in Hastings, but he was educated at high school level initially at Mount Albert Grammar in Auckland and then at St Peters College in Auckland where he played for the First XV during one of the most successful periods in the College's history playing alongside significant Marist players such as Pat Lam and Matthew Webber.

2. After leaving school, Akurangi [known as "Axe" and/or "Akers"] began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland working his way up through the grades until he got some intial appearances for the Premier team in 1989 [the year that the Premier's won the "Gallaher Memorial Shield" for the first time since 1950].

3. Akurangi was a member of our Club's Premier team from that 1989 season through until 2001 [although then playing provincial rugby for Counties Manukau]. This meant that he was a member of our Club's Premier team that played in the Auckland Club Finals each year through until 1996 with the team also being "champions" again in 1991, 1994, and 1996 during the most successful era in our Club's history.

4. In 1994, Akurangi first played for Auckland and this continued until 1997 [as a Prop Forward who could play Hooker] with him transferring to play his provincial rugby for Counties Manukau in 1998. He continued to play there through until 2001 with him playing professionally overseas in the "off season" for teams in the UK/Europe including for the Leicester "Tigers" in England from the end of the 1999 New Zealand Domestic Rugby season.

5. At "Super Rugby" level, Akurangi was a member of the first ever Blues squad in 1996 although he did not get any "game time", the Crusaders in 1997 [playing two games - one against the Hurricanes in Wellington won 19-17 and the other against New South Wales in Sydney lost 25-8], and the Chiefs in 1999 [playing eight games including making his debut against the Crusaders as a Replacement and also starting against the Blues alongside his Marist Clubmate Dylan Mika with the team also including former Marist Sevens player Jonah Lomu - yes that is right... the legend that was Jonah played Sevens for our club when he was first out of Wesley College].

6. Being of Ngati Kahangungu iwi, Akurangi reached national honours when he played for the New Zealand Maori team in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he was selected in the New Zealand Maori team along with then Marist clubmate Caleb Ralph for the tour of Scotland. Playing as a Hooker, he played three matches on the tour in games against the Edinburgh Reivers at Hawick as a Replacement [won 69-3], in the Test Match against Scotland in Edinburgh as a Replacement [won 24-8], and as the starting Hooker against the Glasgow Caledonians at Perthshire [won 53-15]. In 1999, he was again selected as a member of the Maori team who that year made a two game tour to Fiji with him playing in both games as a Prop Forward; the first was against a Fiji XV at Lautoka [won 20-10] and the second being the Test Match played against Fiji in Suva [won 57-20].

7. As previously mentioned, at the end of the 1999 New Zealand Domestic Rugby season Akurangi took up a contract to play overseas for Leicester "Tigers" with him coming back to New Zealand to play for Counties Manukau through until 2001. He was a versatile player who could play as both a Hooker and as a Prop Forward with this making him an asset in any team. Upon retirement from playing Rugby, he commenced as a coach intially in the UK before returning to the southern hemisphere. His gypsy lifestyle included him settling for a few years in Sydney where he coached rugby teams through the grades at Club level, but he was also an "extra" appearing as a "bouncer" for the acclaimed television series "Underbelly".

8. Akurangi has over the years had close calls with his personal health including a life threatening heart attack in 2010 and then major surgery across seven hours in 2015 to repair a torn aorta. He lived and coached rugby overseas in Italy with the Stezzano Rugby Club [a township that is north of Milan] for several years, regularly returning back to Aotearoa.

9. Now in 2023, Akurangi is back living and working in New Zealand... but very significantly he was recently named as the Head Coach of our proud Club's Premier Team for the 2023 Season.

Total New Zealand Statistics; 83 First Class games and scored 80 points

Caleb Stanley RALPH

Date of Birth: 10th September 1977 in Rotorua

Marist New Zealand Maori All Black No. 13

Position: Wing and Centre Threequarter

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team from 1996 to 1997 [from Bay of Plenty], 1998 [from Auckland], from 1999 to 2001 and 2004 to 2005 [from Canterbury] playing 13 games scoring 25 points

Refer Marist's All Blacks Profile

His contribution to the New Zealand Maori team are as follows:

1. Ralph first played for the New Zealand Maori team in 1996 when he was playing from the Bay of Plenty provincial union. He made his debut playing as a Centre Threequarter in the match played against the Tonga Barbarians at Nuku'alofa [won 26-19] on the NZ Maori Team's tour of Fiji and Tonga that year.

2. Ralph then played for the New Zealand Maori team:

in 1997 playing two games and scoring a try in the match played against a Western Samoa XV in Apia [won by 40-8],
in 1998 [playing from our proud club] he played in three games on their tour of England and Scotland scoring a try against the Galsgow Caledonians [won 53-15],
in 1999 playing one game on their tour of Fiji which was the Test Match played against Fiji in Suva that was won by 57 points to 20,
in 2000 playing one game this time on the Wing for the first time in the match played against the touring Scotlend team [won by 18-5],
in 2001 playing two games with the first played against Australia in Sydney [lost by 41-29] and the second against the touring Argentina "Los Pumas" in Rotorua [won by 42-24],
in 2004 playing two games on their tour of Canada playing against the USA in Calgary [won 69-31 scoring a try] and then England A at Edmonton [won in overtime after the scores were tied after 80 minutes winning by 26-19 scoring two tries], and
in 2005 playing one game that was the famous NZ Maori team victory [by 19-13] against the touring "British and irish Lions" in Hamilton.

Kevin Taituha NEPIA

Date of Birth: 27th December 1967 in Auckland

New Zealand Maori All Black Teams in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 [16 games and scored 10 points]

Position: Prop Forward

Other First Class level games of note include:

- At provincial level for Auckland from 1992 to 1996 [41 games and 20 points] with Auckland being "NPC Champions" from 1993 to 1996, and for Canterbury in 1997 and 1998 [19 games and 10 points] with Canterbury being "NPC Champions"" in 1997.

- At "Super Rugby" level for the Blues team in 1996 [7 games] with the Blues being "Super 12" Champions that year of 1996, and for the Crusaders team in 1997 and 1998 [21 games and 15 points] with the Crusaders being "Super 12" Champions in 1998.

- At first class level for other New Zealand National teams that included the New Zealand XV in 1995 and New Zealand A in 1998 [a Trial for the All Blacks] with many suggesting that several times he got very close to All Black selection.

COMMENTS:

1. Born in Auckland, Nepia was educated at tbc's College in Auckland and his first sport was Rugby League which he began playing as a 12-year-old with the Ellerslie Eagles Rugby League Club in Auckland. He played just the two years of rugby league, and also playing for the club in those younger years were future "Kiwis" Rugby League team players, brothers Tony and Kevin Iro.

2. Nepia [known to his mates as "Neeps"] then began playing softball and the person who first tapped him on the shoulder to "swing a bat at a softball" was the Auckland Marist Softball and Rugby Legend Eric Kohlhase.

3. It was Kohlhase who then convinced Nepia to come along to Liston Park in Auckland to "play a winter sport" which of course was with our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland. Starting in the Under 19 Grade [who won the championship in 1986 with Nepia playing in the front row] and then in the Under 21 Grade [who were the beaten Grade Semi-Finalists in 1988], he first played for the Premier Senior team in 1989. He was a member of our Club's first "Gallaher Memorial Shield" winning team in 39-years at the end of that 1989 season defeating Ponsonby in the Final and then he was a member of our Club's Premier team that played in the Final each year through until 1996 with the team being "champions" again in 1991. 1994, and 1996 during the most successful era in our Club's history.

4. First selected to play for Auckland in 1992, Nepia played for the province through until 1996 playing 41 games for the province as well as being a member of the "National Provincial Championship" winning team for Auckland in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. He made his debut in the match played against Marlborough in Blenheim that was won by 55 points to 3 playing in that match alongside his Marist Clubmates Shane Howarth at Fullback [who scored two tries], Waisake Sotutu at Centre, and Pat Lam at No 8. He also played in the next match against Wellington held in the capital that was lost by 9-17 and these were the only two games he played in his debut season.

5. Nepia was though often joining the games for Auckland from "The Bench" during his time playing in the "blue and white hoops" as was such the strength in Auckland Rugby at the time so as to filful his ambitions of playing the game at the very highest level, he transferred to play rugby in Canterbury. Success at that level immediately followed him and he was a member of the Canterbury team that won the NPC compeition in 1997 as well as being the beaten finalist in 1998.

5. First selected to play for the New Zealand Maori team in 1992 [alongside Clubmate Shane Howarth] for their tour of the Pacific Islands, Nepia made his debut in the match played in Rarotonga against the Cook Islands [won 29-17]. He played in two further matches on the tour; against the Tongan President's XV at Nuku'alofa [lost 15-22] and against Fiji Development XV at Nadi [won 15-5]. He subsequently played for the New Zealand Maori team from 1994 through to 1998 for internal tours of New Zealand [1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998] plus for tours to Fiji and Tonga in 1996, and to Western Samoa in 1997 [by this time playing from Canterbury].

6. Significantly, Nepia too has a unique place in New Zealand Rugby history as few players would have been members of teams that had so much success. A great team man [pretty handy with the guitar as well as being a very talented vocalist], Nepia was a popular member of any team and success followed him. He was a player in teams that at Club level won the Auckland Under 19's compeition [x1] then the "Gallaher Memorial Shield" at Premier Grade level [4x], at Provincial level he played for Auckland when they won the NPC [x4] then for playing from the Marist Albion Club Canterbury [x1], and at "Super Rugby" level he played for the "Blues" when they won the competition in 1996 then with the "Crusaders" when they won in 1998. The Marist Softball team was equally successful during this time while Nepia was a member of the team. With that sort of success, who would not want him in their team?

6. After completing is playing days, Nepia has coached the Auckland Marist Under 21 grade team in 2009 and then our Club's Premier team in 2010 plus gets "some game time" playing for the Marist Golden oldies team where his "team spirit" is very much appreciated. He still continues to give back to our proud Club to this day and in 2022/2023 he is in his second term as the Vice-President of our Club working alongside his former Premier teammate Ivan Tasi as President.

Total New Zealand Statistics; 116 First Class games and scored 69 points

Shane Paul HOWARTH

Date of Birth: 8th July 1968 in Auckland

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1990, 1992, and 1994 [7 games and scored 71 points].

Position: Fullback

Refer Marist's All Blacks Profile

His contribution to the New Zealand Maori team are as follows:

1. Howarth first played for the New Zealand Maori team in 1990 when he made his debut playing at Fullback in the match against Auckland at Eden Park [lost 9-22]. This was part of the NZ Maori Team's internal tour of Aotearoa that year. He scored all of the Maori team's points that day playing in "familiar conditions" through kicking three penalties goals. He then played in the next match played in Rotorua against the New Zealand Universities team [won 63-9] with him this time scoring a try as well as successfully kicking eight conversions, and a penalty for a personal points tally of 23.

2. Howarth then again played for the New Zealand Maori team:

in 1992 playing four games on the team's tour of the Pacific Islands playing as a Five Eighth and Utility Back. He kicked a dropped goal in the match played against a Western Samoa President's XV in Apia [lost by 33-3], scored a try in the match played against the Tongan Pressident's XV in Nuku'alofa [lost by 22-15], and he then successfully kicked four conversions in the Test Match played in Nuku'alofa against Tonga [won by 33-10].
in 1994 playing one game that was the Test Match played against Fiji in Christchurch which was won by 34-3 with Howarth scoring a try then successfully kicking two conversions plus five penalties for a personal points tally of 24 points.

Martin Victor "Marty" BROOKE

Date of Birth: 8th May 1963 in Waiuku

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1985, 1988, 1989 and 1990 [13 games].

Position: Lock Forward

Plus also at First Class Level for:

- At provincial level for Auckland from 1985 to 1990 [53 games] and Auckland B in 1986 [including 2 games that were given First Class status]. He then went overseas to play and coach Rugby, but he returned to New Zealand to play for Southland in 1997 [12 games]

- At First Class level for other National Teams that included the New Zealand Colts in 1984 [3 games]. for Northern Maori teams in the "Prince of Wales" matches of 1985 and 1900, and in All Black Trial matches for the Northern Zone or Possibles team in 1989 and 1990.

COMMENTS:

1. Born in Waiuku [south Auckland] and educated at Mahaurngi College in Warkworth, Brooke [named after his grandfather] was a member of a large family with Marist All Blacks Zinzan and Robin being his younger brothers. These three brothers played for our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland as did another younger brother, Simon, while his older brother Naera also played senior rugby in Auckland.

2. Brooke went with his brothers to play for our Club where he was a Lock Forward who had outstanding ball skills [especially in the lineout] plus mobility that enabled him to play very successfully as a Loose Forward also.

3. Brooke was the first of the brothers to play for Auckland with this occurring for him in 1985 after he had the previous year played for the New Zealand Colts [playing three games - two as a Lock and the other as a Loose Forward while scoring a try]. Ultimately, Brooke played 53 games for Auckland during the province's most successful ever era with the majority of these games being at Lock Forward and many of them playing alongside his brothers.

4. Being of Ngapuhi iwi, Brooke was selected to play for the Northern Maori in the "Prince of Wales Cup" matches played in 1985 and 1990. From there he was first selected to play for the New Zealand Maori team in 1985 [1 game], 1988 [10 games and scoring two tries on their tour of the UK and Spain], and again in 1990 [2 games and scoring two tries].

5. It is believed by many that Brooke himself was very close to being selected for the All Blacks on several occassion. This was considered as being no more so than when at the end of 1991, he made the decision to play his rugby overseas in Japan as in 1992 the incumbant All Black Lock Forwards retired en masse.

6. Brooke returned to New Zealand in 1997 and played for the Waikaka Rugby Club in Southland from where at the age of 34-years-old he played a further 12 First Class games for Southland that season [scoring two tries] before finally retiring.

7. Having trained as a plumber, Brooke started his own business in Auckland which still survives to this day. A son, Travis, played rugby in Auckland at Premier level, but sadly not for our club and he is a Police Officer.

Total New Zealand Statistics; 88 First Class games and scored 54 points

Henare "Henry" Augustine Myers TUHAKARAINA [also known as TU]

Date of Birth: TBA'd 1952 in TBA'd

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1973 from Auckland [3 Games] and 1977 from Bay of Plenty [1 Game].

Position: Utility Forward [could play Loose, Lock and Prop Forward]

Plus at First Class Level and significant Rugby Teams for:

- Northern Maori team in the "Prince of Wales Cup" matches of 1973 [1 game], 1974 [1 game] and 1977 [1 game].

NOTE:

1. Tuhakaraina played for the Sacred Heart College First XV in 1969, 1970 and 1971 as a solid Lock Forward who could play as a Prop Forward due to him having great strength, and a very high work rate, plus he had outstanding ball skills. At school, he was a champion athlete particularly excelling in Field Events.

2. Upon leaving school, Tuhakaraina began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland from where he played for the Auckland Colts and then for Auckland B's teams in 1972 to 1973.

3. In 1973, from Auckland and while playing from our Club, Tuhakaraina [known by the abbreviated name of Henare Tu or often just as Henry Tu] was selected as a 20-year-old to play for the New Zealand Maori Team as a Lock Forward who could play Prop and/or Loose Forward. He was selected after having played in the "Prince of Wales Cup" tournament for the Northern Maori team as a Prop. He was a member of the New Zealand Maori team that toured Western Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji that year with him playing in three games on the tour - again showing his versatility playing one as a Prop Forward and two as a Loose Forward. In the "DB Rugby Annual" of that year, it is recorded that Tuhakaraina [as Tu] was a "young prop who looks to have possibilities", but was "in the shadow of Lambert and Bush on tour" [both then current All Blacks].

4. Tuhakaraina subsequently transferred for work to the Bay of Plenty and he played at representative level for the province for the B's. There in 1977, he was again selected to play for the New Zealand Maoris team and he was part of the squad that played against the touring "British and Irish Lions" team of 1977 although he did not "get any game time" that day against them.

5. Little more is known about Tuhakaraina after that time, but tragically he died in 2013 at the relatively young age of 60 with him being the father of four children. There is a trophy in his name, the Henare Tuhakaraina Trophy for Junior Boys Field Events Excellence, that is awarded every year at the Sacred Heart College in Auckland which reflects his significant involvement with sports at that college plus the legacy that he leaves behind for those that follow.

+ Date of Death: 12th February 2013 in Tauranga [60]

Kevin Andrew Anthony NGAWATI

Date of Birth: TBA'd in 1934

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1954 [8 games and scored three points].

Position: Wing Threequarter and Five-Eighths

Plus at First Class Level for:

- At provincial level for Auckland in 1955 and 1956 [plus playing for the Auckland B or XV teams in matches that were given First Class status].

Barbarians in 1954 v

COMMENTS:

1. Born and in raised in the Northland, Ngawati was quickly identified as being a very talented sportsperson and rugby quickly became his sport of choice.

2. Ngawati played for our Marist Old Boys Rugby Football Club in Auckland from 1952 to 1958 playing as a Utility Back although mainly as a Five Eighth. In 1953, he was a member of the Auckland Province's Colts team of that year as well as playing for the Auckland Maori team that season.

3. Ngawati played for Auckland at provincial level at the Auckland A and XV level playing First Class games for both teams, but he is officially recorded as having played only 2 games one each in 1955 and 1956 for Auckland A with him having scoring a try in each match. In 1955, he played for the Auckland as a First Five Eighth in the match played against Bay of Plenty at Te Puke with him scoring a try in the 23 points to 6 victory. In 1956, he came on as a Replacement in the match played against Waikato with him again scoring a try in the match that was won 11 points to 9 in a close victory by Auckland.

4. Ngawati was first selected to play for the New Zealand Maori team as a 20-year-old in 1954 after having played for Auckland B's as well as for the Auckland Maori team before then playing in the Trials for the New Zealand Maori team held in Auckland. It was while playing for Tai Hauauru [won 18-8] in that Trial that he caught the eyes of the selectors. He played his first match for the New Zealand Maori team [that included his Clubmate Keith Davis as Captain] as a First Five Eighth during the internal tour of New Zealand that year that was played against Wanganui [won 22-9]. He next played against North Auckland in Whangarei [won 16-9] and then his third match for the Maori team saw him coming on as a Replacement player in the match played against a New Zealand XV at Auckland's Eden Park [lost 20-24].

5. Ngawati then toured with the New Zealand Maori team that same year on their tour of Fiji with that team again being captained by his Clubmate, Keith Davis. He played as a First Five Eighth in five matches of the eight games on the tour including in the First Test match played against Fiji in Lautoka [lost 19-12] before injury incurred in the match played against Suva ultimately finished his involvement with all activity on the field for the remainder of the tour. In the match played in Lautoka against the Northern Districts team, he scored his first [and ultimately only] points for the New Zealand Maori team through a dropped goal that were in fact the crucial points in the close 20-19 victory for the tourists.

6. In 1956, Ngawati played in the Final Trial for the New Zealand Maori team as a Second Five Eighth and then as a First Five Eighth for Tai Tokerau in the "Prince of Wales Cup" match. However, he missed selection for the New Zealand Maori team with then All Black Bill Gray selected ahead of him as a Five Eighth who was also the team's Captain including in the match played against the touring 1956 South Africa "Springboks" team.

7. It seems that injury limited Ngawati's ongoing career playing Rugby Union, but he then went onto play Rugby League from 1958 for the Marist Rugby League Club in Auckland [which at that time was not unusual as the 13 man game was professional] where he subsequently played for Auckland and the NZ Maoris team in matches against the touring International Teams from Great Britain [known as the Lions] in 1958 and Australia in 1959.

8. There is limited knowledge of Ngawati's life from that time onwards and it is not known how or where he lived out his years nor details of his passing. What is known is that grandchildren have played sports including a grandson playing professional rugby league in the USA.

+ Date of Death: TBA'd

Theodore Dennis "Theo" KIPA

Date of Birth: 17th July 1928 in Thames

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1949, 1950 and 1951 [7 games and scored six points].

Position: Halfback and First Five-Eighths

Other First Class Level games of note included:

- At provincial level for Auckland in 1949, 1950, 1951, and 1953 [14 games scoring 6 points], for Wanganui in 1952 and 1953 [11 games and scoring 9 points], and for Manawatu in 1956 [2 games].

- At first class level for other National teams including for the North Island in 1952 [playing from Wanganui], for Tai Hauarau in 1950 and 1951 for the "Prince of Wales Cup" matches, and for the Olympians Invitational Team [based in Gisborne] in a match played in Gisborne against Poverty Bay in 1953.

COMMENTS:

1. Playing from our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland, Kipa was a talented rugby player who could play as either a Halfback or as a First Fiive Eighth plus Fullback if required. A cousin of his is Vince Bevan, who too was a Halfback and who went onto become an All Black vying with our own Keith Davis [Marist All Black 10] thoroughout the 1950's. In fact it was Davis who caused Kipa himself to switch from playing Halfback to play at First Five Eighth when he [Davis] arrived at our club plus when he too started playing for both Auckland and the New Zealand Maori team. At club level with our club, he was a member of a backline that included our All Blacks Davis, Little, and Lineen with that backline the very best in club rugby anywhere in the country at that time without doubt.

2. First selected to play at provincial level for Auckland in 1949 as a 19-year-old Halfback, Kipa played for the Auckland XV [or B] team in First Class matches that season as well as in 1950, 1951, and 1953 [including against the New Zealand Combined Services Team]. It is recorded that he played two games officially for the Auckland A team which were games played against North Auckland and Waikato in 1951. In those 14 games he played in the "blue and white hoops" of Auckland, he scored two tries. As well as playing for Auckland, he represented Wanganui in 1952 and 1953 [13 games scoring 9 points through a try and two dropped goals with one being against Auckland], and for Manawatu in 1956 [2 games].

3. Kipa also played for the Auckland Maori team and as a 19-year-old he was first selected to tour Australia with the New Zealand Maoris team in that same 1949 season. The baby of the team, he made his "debut" playing as a First Five Eighth in the match played against Australian Capital Territories [ACT] in Canberra [won 47-3]. He played in further matches on the tour as a Halfback against Newcastle in Newcastle [won 17-0], against New England at Armidale [won 42-10], and in the game against Combined Central-Western at Orange he scored a try in the 51 points to 5 victory.

4. Kipa played for the New Zealand Maori team in 1950 [one game v Manawatu] plus he was a member of the squad that prepared to play against the touring "British and Irish Lions" team althougb he did not play, in 1951 [2 games] with one of them being the "Unofficial test" played against the touring Fiji national team at Wellington's Athletic Park, and in 1953 [one game played against Marlborough in Blenheim] although that season he was playing from the Wanganui province.

5. Higher honours also came in 1952 when Kipa played for the North Island in the "1952 Inter-Island Match" [although again he was then playing from Wanganui]. Plus he played for Tai Hauauru as a Halfback in the "Prince of Wales Cup" match of 1950 and then as a First Five Eighth in the 1951 match however this match included him moving to play Fullback during the second half from where the scored two tries .

6. Of the Ngati Maru iwi in the Taranaki region, Kipa was a "government worker" and he ultimately settled in Fielding from where he played those last two First Class matches for Manawatu in 1956.

7. Now aged 94-years-old and still living in Fielding, Kipa is recognised as being the oldest living "Maori All Black" with him being still in great health walking several kilometres each day. When his great mate [and fellow Marist player] Keith Davis died in March of 2020, he drove himself to/from Tokoroa to attend the tangi at the age of 92 and recently in December 2020 he drove to/from Hamilton for a celebration of all players who had ever played for the New Zealand Maoris which was held around the New Zealand Maoris v Moana Pasifika match.

Oldest living New Zealand Maori All Black - aged 94!

Charles Tauwhanga "Ike" PROCTOR

Date of Birth: 19th September 1921 in Pawarenga [Hokianga in Northland]

New Zealand Maori All Blacks Team in 1946 and 1947 [playing from North Auckland], and 1948 playing from Auckland [tour to Fiji]

Position: First and Second Five Eighth

Other First Class level games of note included:

- At other "International Level" for the 2nd NZEF "Kiwis" Army Rugby Team in 1945 and 1946 [21 games]

- At provincial level for North Auckland from 1946 to 1947 [6 games], and for the Auckland B's in 1948 [3 matches recorded as First Class matches].

COMMENTS:

1. A very talented sportsperson, Proctor was a young man living in Whangarei and working as a Farmer when he enlisted in the Army. As a member of the Second Expeditionary Force of the NZDF. he fought in the global conflict now known as the Second World War. A private in the Army, he was a member of the New Zealand "Kiwis" Rugby Team [also known as the "Khaki All Blacks"] playing as a First Five Eighth. That team played in the services tournament in 1945 again winning the "Kings Cup" [the team having won the cup following World War I] and then this team completed a tour of UK/Ireland/France/Germany that year that extended also into 1946 before playing several matches back in New Zealand after the conclusion of the War.

2. Proctor was reknown for being a "bit of a character" and one occasion where his "humour" was very much on public display in "esteemed company" occurred in 1945 with it now recounted on page 89 of the book, "Beneath the Maori Moon" [author Malcolm Mullholland]. On this occassion, it is reported that "Ike" was a member of the "Kiwis" team that were being hosted by King George VI of England and his wife Queen Elizabeth [the mother and father of the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth II] at Buckingham Place in London when the Queen asked him during polite conversation how he liked England... to which he cheekily replied that he did not like England and that he immediately wanted to return home to New Zealand. The Queen enquired further asking, "are the people of England not being kind to you?" and he replied that he was looking forward to geting back to NZ to "have a good feed of wild pork and kumara" before then asking the Queeen, "How are the girls?" with this believed to be a reference to her Royal Highness' two young daughters [then Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret - one of course to become the future Queen of England]. She replied that she would pass on his regards to them to which he said, "She's right Ma'am!". The other players around him were in fits of laughter although could not be overtly doing that as this would have been highly disrespectful... so instead they were more sniggering behind their hands desparately trying to hide the fact that they were doing so.

3. Upon returning to New Zealand, Proctor initially went back "home" from where he played for the North Auckland [now Northland] Representative team in 1946 and 1947 as well as playing both years for the New Zealand Maori Team. He played both First and Second Five Eighth although often switching positions during matches with the legndary Johnnie Smith to play Centre purposely to successfully confuse the opposition.

4. In 1948, Proctor transfered to play his rugby in Auckland where he linked up with our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland and he was a member of our Senior Team [Premiers] that season as well as playing several games for the Auckland Provincial B Team at representative level [three of these games were given First Class status]. That season, he was again selected as member of the New Zealand Maori team on their tour of Fiji playing in both "Test Matches" played against the home Fiji team.

5. It was while in Fiji that it became known to the team and in particular to New Zealand Rugby that Proctor had signed to play Rugby League in the UK with this meaning that he could no longer play the "amateur game". Therefore, he became a "tourist" for the remainder of the tour in charge of the team's "social activities"... which was right up his alley and he reportedly "embraced the challenge" with great enthusiasm. After the tour was completed, he travelled to the UK at the end of 1948 where he subsequently played Rugby League initially for Halifax, then later for Leeds and Warrington, from 1949 to 1953 before then returning back to NZ in 1954.

6. Upon returning to New Zealand, Proctor again became active within the environment of our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club [although he was not allowed to play due to him having been a professional Rugby League player] and where later a Cup was presented in his name, the "Proctor Cup", that has since appropriately been awarded each year to the player in the Senior ["Premier"] Team of our Club who during that season displayed the "Best Team Spirit".

7. An amazingly talented sportsperson and "great company" at anytime in the presence of anyone, Proctor died in Auckland in 2010 at the age of 88.

+ Date of Death: 27th March 2010 in Auckland [88]

Albert James "Sonny" WEST

Date of Birth: 1st July 1917 at Wanganui

Marist New Zealand Maori All Black No. 2

Position: Loose and Prop Forward

NZ Maori All Black in 1939 [from Southland], 1946 [from Taranaki], and 1947 as well as 1949 [from Auckland]

Other First Class games of note included:

- At provincial level for Southland in TBC'd, for Taranaki in TBC'd, and for Auckland in 1947 to 1950 [playing tbc'd games and scoring tbc;d points].

- .

COMMENTS:

1. West was a member of the Senior side of our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland in .

In 1939, West joined the military [Service Number 73932 with the 2nd NZEF] as part the significant contribution made by New Zealand in World War II. In the Army, he was a Gunner in the Artillery division having enlisted from Murumuru [in the Wanganui/Taranaki area] where he had been working as a Farmhand and he was subsequently involved with two embarkations into the War as part of the NZ Artillery.

In 1939 Flanker against the touring Fiji national team in the match played in Hamilton [lost 14-4]

Captain on tour of Australia in 1949..

Retired in 1950 having badly injured a shoulder playing for Auckland

Relatively short and thick set in build, West approx. 15 stone [tbc'd in today's metrics]

+ Date of Death: 19th October 1996 in Auckland [76]

George Hori PAKI

Date of Birth: 16th June in 1893 in Huntly

Marist New Zealand Maori All Black No. 1

Position: Utility Player [Fullback, Five Eighths, and Loose Forward]

NZ Maori All Black in 1913 [from Auckland] - scoring three tries for three points.

Other First Class games of note included:

- Paki is not recorded as having played representative Rugby Union for Auckland nor for any other province[s], but it is believed that as he was only 20-years-old when he was selected to play for the New Zealand Moari team so playing for Auckland was expected to come and then "World War I" commenced in 1914.

- Officially in the "History of New Zealand Rugby", Paki is recorded as being a member of that team having been from "South Auckland" and he was a member of the "1913 New Zealand Maoris Team" [the photo of Paki is extracted from that team's photograph].

COMMENTS:

1. Paki was born and raised in Huntly from where he initially began to get noticed as a player of considerable talent playing in age-group area teams then for Lower Waikato including in a game played against Auckland in 1911 [lost 38-3] playing as a First Five Eighth.

2. Although it is not definitely known, it could have been his involvement in that match [where he reportedly played very well], Paki was encouraged to play his rugby in Auckland. It is believed that he played for our Club in 1912 and then he was definitely a member of the Senior side of our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland in 1913 that were the "Runners Up" to Ponsonby in the Auckland Club Championship of that year having lost the Final.

3. Paki was selected to be a member of the touring New Zealand Maori team to Australia in that 1913 season. The team is now recorded as a official New Zealand Maoris team having been for many years considered as an "unofficial side" due to the unavailability of several "top line" players with the team aiso recorded as having "not performed particularly well" when compared with other NZ Maori teams of that era. Before departure to Australia, he first played in a pre-deaprture match against a Rotorua side [won 17-9] with him scoring a try while playing at Fullback and in a second game against Thames [the result is not recorded].

4. In Australia, Paki played in two of the six matches on the tour. The first was as a replacement against New South Wales played in Sydney [lost 3-15] and against a Sydney Metropolitan team that was won by 6 points to 3. After that game, it was recorded in the "local press" that he had played so well that he was awarded a "valuable trophy" that he subsequently gave to the then Maori King, Te Rata Mahuta, upon the team's return to New Zealand.

5. Once back in New Zealand, the team immediately completed a six match internal tour of the country with Paki playing in three of those games in the Forwards which were played against Otago in Dunedin [drawn 3-3], against South Canterbury in Timaru [won 19-8], and against Wellington at Athletic Park . In that match, the NZ Maori team was behind by 23 points to 0 in the Second Half, but the Final Score was a loss by just 21 points to 23 with Paki scoring two tries in a storming [literally as apparently the weather was awful] comeback.

6. Later during that 1913 season, Paki was selected as an "emergency player" for the New Zealand Maori team to play against the touring Australian national team that was played at Auckland's Alexandra Park [won 12-9], but he did not take the field. In 1914, he began playing his rugby in the Waikato, but in 1915 it is recorded that he "changed codes" to play Rugby League.

7. Paki begun playing Rugby League [then called and more commonly known then as "Northern Union"] initially in Waikato. However, Newspaper records from that time have him playing for the "City Rovers" club in Auckland from 1919, and then playing for the Auckland Team from 1919 to 1921 including playing against the "Kiwis" in 1920. He played for the New Zealand Maori team in 1922 and it is recorded that he played one Test [as well as 5 non-Test games] for the New Zealand "Kiwis" in 1921 as a "Forward" [Kiwi No 151] before retiring in 1925. It is known that he was the coach of the "Kiwis" team in 1922 for five games.

8. When in Auckland, Paki worked in the ports and he is known to have married twice [once to Myrtle Peters and then to Nance Moon] plus being the father of a daughter, Joyce, with Peters. He was well connected within Maoridom with his nephew having married the former Maori Queen, Te Atairangikahu, in 1952. There was longevity of life in his family with his father dying aged 101 and he himself passed away aged 80 in 1974. Of interest, well known former Kiwi League player Lance Hohaia is a great grand nephew.

+ Date of Death: 12th April 1974 in Auckland [80]