John Taiaroa

John Grey "Jack" Taiaroa (16 September 1862 – 31 December 1907), of Ngāi Tahu descent, was a New Zealand rugby union player. A halfback, he played nine matches for the New Zealand national team in 1884—the warm-up in Wellington and all eight matches of the tour of New South Wales; New Zealand won all eight games. There were no test matches on the tour, as there was not yet an Australian national team, and would not be until 1903.[2]

Jack Taiaroa
Birth nameJohn Grey Taiaroa
Teone Wiwi Taiaroa[1]
Date of birth(1862-09-16)16 September 1862
Place of birthOtakou, New Zealand
Date of death31 December 1907(1907-12-31) (aged 45)
Place of deathOtago Harbour, New Zealand
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
SchoolOtago Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)Hori Kerei Taiaroa (father)
Tini Kerei Taiaroa (mother)
Te Matenga Taiaroa (grandfather)
Dick Taiaroa (brother)
Thomas Ellison (cousin)
Occupation(s)Lawyer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Halfback
All Black No. 13
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1881–84
1887–89
Otago
Hawke's Bay
()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1884 New Zealand 0 (0)
Cricket information
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1891/92–1898/99Hawke's Bay
First-class debut9 January 1892  v Taranaki
Last First-class26 December 1898  v Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 8
Runs scored 140
Batting average 14.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 32*
Balls bowled 89
Wickets 1
Bowling average 43.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1-9
Catches/stumpings 2/0
Source: CricketArchive, 22 January 2017

Born in Otakou, the son of Hori Kerei Taiaroa, a New Zealand Member of Parliament, Taiaroa played school-boy rugby for Otago Boys' High School and then for the Otago provincial side. He went on to set a national record in the long jump and represent Hawke's Bay in first-class cricket during the 1890s as an attacking batsman.[3][4][5]

In 1886 Taiaroa hit the headlines after signing his father's name on a promissory note. Despite a warrant being issued for his arrest, it was not served and the charges were later dropped.[6][7]

He spent most of his working life as a lawyer in Hastings. He was accidentally drowned in Otago Harbour on 31 December 1907[8] and his body was recovered at Karitane beach two weeks later.[9]

References

  1. Teone Wiwi ‘Jack’ Taiaroa. maorisportsawards.co.nz
  2. "THE FAMOUS MAORI FOOTBALLER, JACK TAIAROA". jottingsonrugby.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  3. Knight, Lindsay. "John Taiaroa". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. "John Taiaroa | New Zealand Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials". espncricinfo.com. 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  5. "Cricket". Hawke's Bay Herald. XXIX (9633). 19 March 1894. p. 4.
  6. "Papers Past — Star — 5 May 1887 — MAGISTRATE'S COURT". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  7. "Papers Past — Daily Telegraph — 14 May 1887 — THE CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG TAIAROA DISMISSED". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  8. "The death of Taiaroa". Bay of Plenty Times. 17 January 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  9. "Recovery of Taiaroa's body". Wanganui Chronicle. 16 January 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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