LEAGUE FOOTBALL

The League code is richly endowed with lustrous names of Maoridom. Names like George Nepia, Jim Rukutai, Peter Ririnui, those famous brothers Rangi and Tommy Chase, Steve Watene and Ivan Gregory scintillate among a galaxy of stars. Most of these players were converts from the Rugby Union where they had already made their reputations. Nepia had played League in England and on his return to New Zealand played for the Manukau Club in Auckland. Manukau is one of the greatest club teams to have ever played on Carlaw Park and in its heydey boasted a team in which internationals rubbed shoulders with provincial stars. Manukau consisted entirely of players of Maori descent and proved a great draw card. The senior team achieved one of

the rarest of feats when it annexed all championships in one year. The club championship, the Roope Rooster and the Champion of Champions.

In the ill fated team that left for England in 1939 Manukau had Ririnui, Hemi, Broderick, Chase, and Mahuna. Ririnui it was said was first choice with the other four pressing close on his heels. The 1937 Springboks said of Ririnui that he was the greatest forward they encountered on their now famous tour. It was the following year that the giant Maori forward changed over to the League code. Jack Hemi was a prodigious kicker with either foot and using the torpedo technique he could send the ball fifty yards down field without noticeable effort. His goal kicking was of a very high standard and he won the goal kicking competition several times. To send the ball high above the crossbar from half-way was commonplace to Hemi. The advantage from the kick off or drop out was enormous to his side as it meant they regained possession. There were several other prominent Maori players in other clubs and when the combined Maoris played combined pakehas in their annual match the ground was packed to capacity and very seldom were the fans disappointed with the fare. Rukutai, whose name is perpetuated in the Rukutai School, won renown as a player and also as a very able administrator in the League code. Manukau

owned a great deal to Steve Watene in an administrative capacity and also able captaincy on the field. Watene captained New Zealand against the Englishmen prior to the war. The present day crop of sportsmen have yielded players of the calibre of Maxwell, Ratima and Turner, also Yates, all internationals. Backs do not seem as numerous as in other years, perhaps because of the type of game played now or the paucity of talent. It is a fact that there are few Maori backs of brilliance these days who could compare with those of the past. However, that seems to be a failing of both codes at present. One could write at length on Maori players in the code so if I have omitted any it is only because space does not permit. But I would like to say this, that the impact of the Maori on League has been to the good in that they have brought a natural ebullience to the game and a variety of “Maori” tricks. All through the lower grades you will find Maoris playing and the League code has done good in that respect in that it has provided recreation for Maoris of all ages.

BASKETBALL

Outdoor basketball has a large number of Maori girls and women in competition. There are two associations, the Auckland Women's Basketball Association and the Catholic Women's League. Both associations have Maori teams competing. Also many of the girls play in other teams. The Queen Victoria Maori Girls' College has proved in the nature of a nursery for many Auckland representatives have come from the college. One of Auckland's most prominent players is Miss June Waititi, who has represented Auckland for many years and has also played for North Island which she captained in 1958. Miss Waititi has also proved a capable coach of the college team and when the school meet their coach in the competition games, there are no beg pardons!

Mrs May Smith, about whom so much has been written, is one of Auckland's outstanding sports-women. Whether it be outdoor or indoor basketball or softball, May Smith can foot it with the best. Her daughters also play good basketball, whilst her son George shows promise as an indoor basketballer.

Indoor basketball is well organised in Auckland. With its headquarters at the Maori Community Centre, the Maori Youth Movement Indoor Basketball League conducts an annual winter competition. The league is one of the four constituting the Auckland Association, with headquarters at the Y.M.C.A. The Maori Youth Movement's League is open to all and one year there was a Chinese team playing in their competition. The proportion of Maori and pakeha in the league would be approximately half and half, with some teams composed entirely of Maori players. There is one men's team called Akarana and two ladies teams, one Akarana and the other M.C.C. The president is a Maori, Mr Rautahi, who is well known in sporting circles in Auckland. His aim is to create an inter-town provincial Maori Competition in indoor basketball so anybody interested should contact Mr Rautahi, C/o. Maori Community Centre, Auckland. Here again, as in outdoor basketball, the names of Miss Waititi and Mrs Smith loom large. Both are consistent Auckland and North Island representatives and have been selected for a New Zealand team. Their advice in playing techniques and tactics is widely sought and being the fine sportswomen they are, they are always available for coaching sessions.

TENNIS

Auckland's foremost exponent of the game is Miss Ruia Morrison, a New Zealand ladies champion and our first Maori representative at Wimbledon, where she acquitted herself with honour. An old girl of Queen Victoria College, where she also played basketball, Miss Morrison is a very popular person, being noted for her unassuming manner and desire to get on with the game. On her two overseas trips she has learnt a lot and says her tennis has improved. Another of Auckland's finest players was Bob Matiu. Mr Matiu

was also New Zealand Maori champion. His career as top man for Ngatira for several seasons made him one of the most difficult men to beat on hard courts. At the last New Zealand championships held in Auckland, Mr John Waititi won the trophy for the best umpire during the whole tournament, his delivery of calls and demeanour being impeccable. There are several Maori players with various clubs in Auckland and all play good games and are able to give good accounts of themselves. Economically, it could be said that tennis is within the scope of the normal income; this is probably one reason why it is so popular.

Golf, unlike tennis, is economically difficult for many Maoris. Club enrolment fees, annual subscriptions, equipment and transport are rather prohibitive as far as the average income is concerned. However, Auckland has two New Zealand champions. Mr Godfrey, a young man of Maori descent, at the age of 17 has annexed the amateur crown of New Zealand. His feat is without parallel in New Zealand golf history. Starting as a young caddy at Titirangi, he has progressed through the caddies championships to his New Zealand title. Here is a lad with a natural rhythm and balance who only needs more intensive competition to perhaps one day be New Zealand's first Maori to play in the world amateur

championships. Mr Chapman, the present Maori champion, plays for Akarana, an old established club in Auckland. Golf as a game is gradually taking hold of the Maori in Auckland, however. At the municipal links at Chamberlain Park one may often see Maoris doing a round.

SWIMMING

As a recreation, it is very popular, but competitively Auckland has seen very few Maoris. Miss Moana Manley, now Mrs Whaanga, was our most notable exponent. Holding several Auckland records, later broken by Miss Gould, Miss Manley was a picture of grace and beauty as she glided effortlessly through the water. As a backstroke swimmer, Moana justly ranks with New Zealand's best. Many were her doughty battles with Olympian Jean Stewart. Miss Manley was a New Zealand junior champion and intermediate champion. She was also selected in an Auckland team that went to Australia, where she won in New South Wales.

Another of Auckland's better known swimmers was Mr Jock Taua, who won the D. M. and L. Wallace Cup for the Auckland 3½ mile championship open harbour swim. A powerful swimmer with splendid stroking, he competed in numerous long distance races with success against swimmers of the calibre of P. Mathieson, a New Zealand champion, and R. Buchanan, another champion. His most exciting experience was when he ran aground and had to walk home, which took much longer than swimming.

He captained his club at water polo when they achieved championship honours.

ATHLETICS

Auckland has had only one athlete of note in recent years, a young man from North Auckland, Mr D. Walters, who won a New Zealand junior hop, step and jump title.

Athletics is a sport in which Maoris should be able to compete with some measure of success. Their fleetness of foot, strength and physique in general should enable them to excel themselves. It is only while at schools, where incentive exists and discipline is present, that Maoris occupy themselves with athletics. Once they leave school they very seldom join up local clubs so a high potential is lost. So perhaps if anyone reading this could organise this sphere of activity in Auckland they would earn the gratitude of both Maori and pakeha, for who knows there may be an Olympic champion there.

SPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Perhaps the most successful of the sporting organisations formed in Auckland after the war was the Akarana Maori Sports Association. Formed in 1947 under the able chairmanship of Mr Monty Graham, the association catered for

such sports as Rugby, cricket and basketball. With Dr. Paewai as mentor for Rugby, the club enjoyed a reasonable amount of success in the senior Rugby competition. Membership was high and interest very keen. The ladies basketball team proved very difficult to beat and were always well turned out and punctual. Cricket was played at the Domain, where it was interesting to see one of the few Maori teams to ever compete in a cricket competition.

One could write at length on the very many sports in Auckland, but as maybe seen from those already mentioned there is Maori representation of a fairly high standard. It must be recognised that there is no really strong organisation catering purely for Maori participants, as it is felt that co-existence with the pakeha on a sporting level is much more desirable than a restricted type of competition open to Maoris alone.

There is, however, no opposition to Maori teams competing as such in recognised competitions so that there is really no complete alienation of the Maori concept of doing things as Maoris, and in the Maori way.