Ruia Mereana Morrison, Dame Companion, New Zealand Order of Merit

Queens Birthday Weekend, June 2021, Ruia Morrison was made a Dame in the Queen's Birthday honours.

So who is Ruia Morrison, and what was in her past that led to her having an honour such as Dame Companion bestowed on her.

Ruia Meareana Morrison was born in May 1936, the third of nine children, to Hingawaka (Waki) Morrison and Tanira Kingi. She attended Rotokawa and Rotorua Primary Schools. It was at about age eight that Ruia became hooked on hitting a tennis ball. At age ten her father gave her a tennis racket but unfortunately she broke it. After that she played using an old racket of her Dad's. During those years, inter-marae exchanges were common and it was those that began her competition tennis. (Aotearoa Maori Tennis Association, 2006). 

In 1949 she was included as a Junior to represent the Te Arawa Lawn Tennis sub-association competing against other iwi at the New Zealand Māori Lawn Tennis Association Tournament in Gisborne. She and another young tennis player, Joe Paul, were presented with a special silver cup by Sir Apirana Ngata for "most improved juniors". (Romanos, 2012)

During the 1950's she was a top junior in the tennis scene. 1953 saw her enrolled at Queen Victoria School for Māori Girls before heading on to Teacher's College. During her Teacher's College years she played Caro Bowl Interclub for the Eden-Epsom Tennis Club. She was teamed up with Heather Robson who became her doubles guide and was a great tactician. In 1955 she attended her first National Seniors Championships where she was beaten by Sonia Cox. In 1956 she played again, this time winning over Sonia Cox.

By now, it was felt that Ruia would benefit from some overseas exposure, and people began talking about her playing at Wimbledon. In 1956 John Waititi had the idea of forming the Ruia Morrison Wimbledon Committee to raise money to send Ruia to Wimbledon and Britain. Māori throughout New Zealand were wonderfully supportive. Her cousin Howard Morrison was a big drawcard at a variety concert at the Auckland Town Hall. All in all, enough money was raised to enable Ruia to travel back and forth to Britain and play tennis at home for four years. In 1958 she donated some of those funds to help establish a Māori golfer, Walter Godfrey, overseas. 

In 1957 Ruia Morrison headed overseas with her doubles partner, Heather Robson. She was to be the first Māori to play on the grass courts of Wimbledon, making a great impression on the tennis critics, one of whom dubbed her "Tiger". (Romanos, 1986)

In 1958 she was invited to the Carribean by Betty Pratt for a tournament. 1959 saw her off to Britain again, where she had several successes. She reached the third round of Wimbledon Doubles, and the fourth round of Mixed Doubles. During her tennis career she played at Wimbledon four times.

Back in New Zealand she won the New Zealand National Singles title in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962 and 1964. (Aotearoa Maori Tennis Association, 2006).

In 1960 she was awarded the MBE for Services to Māori people and New Zealand tennis.

In 1962 Ruia married Kenneth Alan Davy although the marriage did not survive. (Te Ao Hou, 1962). 

In 1965 Ruia became actively involved in aspects of coaching tennis. Rothman's Coaching Clinics proved to be a perfect format for her to participate in. She became the "first official women's professional tennis coach" (Romanos, 1986). Ruia went on to continue teaching, raising her family and providing coaching clinics for local children especially in Rotorua. 

In 2013 Ruia was invited back to Wimbledon as a special guest of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Each year Ruia would attend the ASB Classic tennis matches in Auckland. In 2020 she presented Serena Williams with a korowai after she won the ASB Women's Classic. Going forward, future winners of the Womens' Classic will be presented with the korowai named after Ruia Morrison.(Long, D, 2021). 

For many years Ruia has been referred to as the lost tennis legend of New Zealand but the presentation at Queen's Birthday has definitely brought her into public awareness again.

Check out this video on YouTube for further details on Ruia Morrison.

Post written by Trish. (2021, October 1).

References

Aotearoa Māori Tennis Association. (2006). A history of Māori tennis = He hītori o te tēnehi Māori. 

Duff, A. (2000). Alan Duff's Māori heroes. Random House Book.

Long, D. (2021, June 7). Groundbreaking tennis star Ruia Morrison appointed Dame. Stuff.

Morrison, A. (1983). The Clan Morrison reunion, Rotorua, 1983 souvenir programme. 

Romanos, J. (2012). 100 Māori sports heroes. Trio Books Limited.

Romanos, M. (1986, July1). Ruia Morrison. Tu Tangata, 30,46.

Te Ao Hou: The Māori magazine. (1962, March). 38, 9.

You want to come back. (1995, February-April). Mana, 8, 64-67.