Rugby at Whakarewarewa: Snapshots Through Time

Introduction 

Whakarewarewa is the oldest rugby club in Rotorua, having formed in the late nineteenth century during a visit to Rotorua from a British rugby team. A pitch was marked out on Pūkeroa Hill, the first match played against a visiting side, and the rest is history! 

Sadly, a recent fire damaged the clubrooms, destroying many of the treasures housed there. This story aims to fill the void. It offers a glimpse into the club’s incredible history – the focus being on taonga held by organisations across Aotearoa. You can view each snapshot to the right of this text. Simply click on the image to enlarge it. 

Snapshot 1

Our first snapshot is held by the New Zealand Rugby Museum. Their catalogue description reads as follows: 

Photograph, said to be taken in 1889 or 1990, of team in hooped jerseys, plus several other individuals, in front of a marae setting. Captioned "Whakarewarewa 320 GV" (Stephen Berg, personal communication, November 12, 2025).

If you look closely, you might spot “TFC” on the player’s jerseys. There is a possibility this stands for "Tūhourangi Football Club". Many Tūhourangi were living in Whakarewarewa, after being displaced from Te Wairoa by the Tarawera eruption. 

"History of New Zealand Rugby Football Vol. I" records that Whakarewarewa Rugby Football Club was formed in 1890, so it is likely this photograph relates to the club. 

Snapshot 2

Our second snapshot comes from the festive season of 1890, during which a game of rugby was played at Whakarewarewa. Dramatic words illustrate this moment in time, with a reporter from the Hawke’s Bay Herald recording a tense match between Ngāti Whakaue and Tūhourangi. The match report speaks for itself - see image to the right of this text. 

Snapshot 3 

During the Second World War, the club went into recess, with senior-team members deserting the pitch for the battlefield. Disgruntled readers, A. Wikiriwhi and R. Winiata, wrote to the editor of the Rotorua Morning Post, on 23 April 1940, to make it clear the senior team had not "simply faded away". In their letter, they list the players that were – at the time of writing – in the Māori Battalion at Palmerston North, as well as those waiting to be called up:

At present in the Māori Battalion camp in Palmerston North are Peter Maika, Kuru Waaka, A. Waaka, Ruhi Pene, Ceylon Wikiriwhi, K. Menzie Maika, Eddie Morgan, W. Siki Heretu, Jack Marsh, Jim Wallace, P. Raponi.

At home, passed as medically fit, and waiting to be called up, are Skipper Jimmy Hupa, Sam (Hoti) Makiha, K. (Superman) Raponi, P. (Boucher) Mutu, Kimo Aratema, R. (Rock) Maika, Tupu Raimona.

Snapshot 4

Things got groovy and glamourous in 1967, thanks to a visit from Miss New Zealand contestants. The visitors look as though they might be enjoying the occasion more than the players! This article includes images of some of the club's star players of the era, Bill Potae and Manu Maniapoto. 

Snapshot 5

Can you fill this this gap!? 
If you have photographs of the club that you would like to share with the community, we would love to see them on our heritage website, Pakiaka.

• Follow this link to learn how the website works.
• Follow this link to upload content.

This story was written by Abigail (posted on ... February 2025).  

References 

Hawke's Bay Herald (1890, January 1890). Football at Christmas. Hawke's Bay Herald. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBH18900120.2.13

Lang, Jack (1967, May 5). Game with glamour. Rotorua Photo News, 44(5), 78-79. pakiaka.rotorualibrary.govt.nz/nodes/view/1854

Mulholland, Malcolm (2009). Beneath the Māori Moon: an illustrated history of Māori Rugby. Huia.

[Programme for Rotorua Banner Championship and Matt Wilson Trophy Rugby Grand Finals]. (1985). 1985 Rotorua Banner Championship and Matt Wilson Trophy. The Published Histories of New Zealand & Australian Rugby Football. nzrugbyhistory.com/publication/1985-rotorua-club-grand-finals-programme-page-5

Wikiriwhi, A., Winiata, R. (1940, April 23). Public opinion. Rotorua Morning Post. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/RMPOST19400423.2.47