A FUTURE MAORI LEADER

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1931, Page 5

A FUTURE MAORI LEADER

HIRENE WIKIRIWHI.

NOMINATION AS RHODES SCHOLAR

Tho nomination of Hirene Te Mokai Wikiriwhi as a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship has been forwarded to the Canterbury College Professional Board as a post entry. The board will consider, says tho Times, whether his late entry can be accepted, Wikiriwhi was born on May 2, 1911, and was educated at the Whakarewarewa Native School, Rotorua, from 1916 to 1924. Ho attended Te Aute Cqllege from 1925 to 1928. In 1924 he won a Junior Makarini (McLean) Scholarship,

tenable at Te Aute College for two years. He was awarded the Buller Scholarship, in 1926, which enabled him to continue his studies for a further two years. In that year he passed his Public Service Entrance examination, while in the following year he was compelled to study a course in theoretical and practical agriculture and dairying. The same year he won his form prize and another in science. Wikiriwhi gained his matriculation in 1928. That year he was a iponitor at the college, was senior sergeant in the cadet corps, and took a prominent part in the college debates. The Arawa Trust and Maori Purposes Fund Control Boards granted Wikiriwhi a special leaving scholarship in 1929, enabling him to attend the University. The scholarship provided for all his expenses and was granted on the recommendation of Sir Apirana Ngata. Wikiriwhi is at present studying for the Bachelor of Arts degree, and is this year sitting his final section. During the past two years he has done considerable coaching in Maori, and this year has among his pupils one who intends to take the subject for B.A. Wikiriwhi is keenly interested in football, lawn tennis and swimming. While at the primary school he was the vicecaptain of the Rotorua’primary schools’ representative team. On going, to Te Aute he played for two years in the second fifteen, and in 19'25 played for the Central Hawke’s Bay junior representatives. In 1927 Wikiriwhi gained his football cap, and in 1928 was captain of the first fifteen. That team retained the Moascar Cup. On coming to Canterbury College in 1929, Wikiriwhi played for the Varsity senior A team and represented the college against Otago University and the Sydney University touring team. A badly twisted cartilage in his right knee prevented him from playing for the team .

in 1930. However, he acted as coach to one of the junior teams. During the pass season he has played consistently for the seniors, and was one of the nominees for the New Zealand University football team which visited Australia recently. In outside football he has played for the South Island Maori team on two occasions, and is at present being considered for the match against the North Island Maoris.

In lawn tennis at Te Aute, Wikiriwhi played for the first eight, and in cricket for the second eleven. He was the college swimming champion, and took a lively interest in boxing. He continued his swimming at Canterbury College, and for the past two years has been runner-up in the college championships. This year he is vice-captain of the college club, and narrowly missed representing Canterbury in the New Zealand University tournament. At College House, Wikiriwhi is the football and tennis captain. For the past three years he has represented the house in football, tennis and swimming. Although not taking a prominent part in other of the extra-scholastic activities of the college, Wikiriwhi is keenly interested in the Dialectic Society, the Student Christian Movement and the Historical Association.

Wikiriwhi is a member of the Arawa tribe. As the son of a chief, he is, in his own right, a chief, and has already taken an active part in the councils of the tribe nt Rotorua. He is looked upon as a future leader among the Maori people, and earnestly hopes to prove worthy of these expectations of his people. As Wikiriwhi is advancing history for his degree, he would desire, in the event of his selection, to continue his studies in history.