{"id":15347,"date":"2022-01-08T05:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T16:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=15347"},"modified":"2022-01-08T22:52:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T09:52:26","slug":"rugby-whanau-and-whenua-the-life-of-east-coast-man-morgan-waitoa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2022\/01\/08\/rugby-whanau-and-whenua-the-life-of-east-coast-man-morgan-waitoa\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby, wh\u0101nau and whenua: The life of East Coast man Morgan Waitoa"},"content":{"rendered":"

above: Waitoa playing for Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast vs Poverty Bay in 2000.<\/em><\/p>\n

Rugby, wh\u0101nau and whenua.<\/p>\n

They’re a kind of holy trinity on the East Coast.<\/p>\n

They were certainly the holy trinity to Morgan Waitoa, whose death on December 29 has left a hole in the lives of many.<\/p>\n

Enoka Morgan Pohoikura Waitoa (known as Morgan), 61, failed to resurface while diving for kaimoana near Te Araroa with his son and grandson.<\/p>\n

Waitoa was born and bred on family land at Te Araroa. He was the second to youngest of eight children, raised with a strong sense of “whanaungatanga” and “manaakitanga”, and grew up learning how to hunt, fish and dive in order to provide for wh\u0101nau and others.<\/p>\n

His dad, grandad and three older brothers were adept rugby players (they all represented East Coast) and the sport was, as it is for many in these parts, intrinsic from a young age. When rugby wasn\u2019t being played at the Waitoa household, it was being watched, discussed, analysed, or never far from front of mind.<\/p>\n

Waitoa left school young to become a general farm hand. He would become a skilled fencer and shearer, and an accomplished forestry worker.<\/p>\n

He learned to ride a horse around the age he learned to walk, and began breaking them in from a young age. He loved horses, was known for his \u2018\u2019knack\u2019\u2019 with them, and as a young man competed on the local summer\/autumn horse sport circuit.<\/p>\n

He played his first rugby for the Hicks Bay RFC, then Te Araroa Combined RFC (Later KK Combined, now in recess) before moving to Tokar\u0101rangi Sports Club (also based in Te Araroa).<\/p>\n

He was a natural. Tall, powerful and blessed with a gift for reading the game that must have been cultivated partly by genetics, and partly by years of playing with siblings and elders.<\/p>\n

But even with all that going for him, none could have foreseen the remarkable \u2013 by national and international standards \u2013 playing career that lay ahead.<\/p>\n

His first cousin Campbell Dewes grew up playing alongside Waitoa. Dewes, now the president of Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast Rugby Union, was in the provincial team with Waitoa between 1982 and 1997.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe worked several seasons in the freezing works in Gisborne, turning out for local clubs YMP (Young M\u0101ori Party) then GMC (Gisborne M\u0101ori Club) while living there. But he always returned home to work on the land until the new killing season started up. Except for a very short stint in the Manawat\u016b and the meatworks in Gisborne, he didn’t move very far from Te Araroa. Hard physical work kept him physically fit and active,\u201d Dewes said.<\/p>\n

Waitoa first ran out for Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast as a 17-year-old in 1979. His last game for the province would come in 2006 as player-coach ; 27 years and 115 games later. He was 45, and was not in the team out of sentimentality \u2013 he\u2019d had to lace up the boots as they had no injury cover except for the Coach , who dually obliged. .<\/p>\n

\"\"
Waitoa playing for Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast against Poverty Bay in 1986.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHe started his rugby in the backs, was at his peak as a loose forward, mainly number 8. Later moved into lock then prop at club level. At six-foot-two, and 100 kg at his peak, he was rarely bested, never beaten. Quick off the mark, big, fast, strong, and skilful. He was physically impressive, and a prominent presence at all levels,\u201d recalled Dewes.<\/p>\n

The fortunes for Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast have peaked and troughed over the years. Waitoa went through them all, and was there for the winning eras of 1986-88 and 1999-01 as well as two (unsuccessful) Ranfurly Shield challenges against Auckland in 1987 (at Eden Park) and 1997 (at home: Whakarua Park, Ruatoria).<\/p>\n

He coached and player-coached throughout his playing days (including at Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast).<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a man of few words. When he spoke people listened,\u201d Dewes said.<\/p>\n

In 1998, he married his soulmate Haley Atkins. They have raised four children, all of whom were ferried between sporting endeavours (from swimming club to waka ama to netball, rugby, basketball, to horse sports) by their keen and adoring parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe coached junior Saturday morning rugby, teenage under 14s and under-16s while still playing himself. It wasn\u2019t unusual for him to help run the Saturday morning J.A.B (Junior Advisory Board 5\u201313-year-olds) in Te Araroa, then jump in the truck to get to Uawa [Tolaga Bay] for his own club game an hour and a half down the road,\u201d Dewes said.<\/p>\n

Three of Waitoa\u2019s four children (Wallis, Tina and Materoa) live on the East Coast with their partners and children. The fourth, Hineriu, resides in Australia.<\/p>\n

Few things gave Waitoa as much joy as having mokopuna arrive, and he made a point of passing on to them, as he had with his children before, the same values that had steered him through life.<\/p>\n

He died while diving for kaimoana with his son Tina and mokopuna Waikura Delamere on December 29. He did not resurface. His body was recovered the next day.<\/p>\n

Waitoa lay in state on Hinerupe Marae upon his return for one day and night while under the new Orange Light Covid-19 regulations. He was interred in the family urup\u0101 in Taungah\u0101puku Urup\u0101, Toetoe Station, Horoera, Te Araroa.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnoka. Haere ki \u014d m\u0101tua, haere ki \u014d tipuna. Haere ki a r\u0101tau m\u0101 kua mene ki te p\u014d, haere ki a r\u0101tau m\u0101 kua whet\u016brangitia. Haere, okioki ai,\u201d Dewes said.<\/p>\n

As published on Stuff.co.nz : Marty Sharpe<\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.stuff.co.nz\/pou-tiaki\/127441690\/rugby-whnau-and-whenua-the-life-of-east-coast-man-morgan-waitoa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

above: Waitoa playing for Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast vs Poverty Bay in 2000. Rugby, wh\u0101nau and whenua. They’re a kind of holy trinity on the East Coast. They were certainly the holy trinity to Morgan Waitoa, whose death on December 29 has left a hole in the lives of many. Enoka Morgan Pohoikura Waitoa (known…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Rugby, wh\u0101nau and whenua: The life of East Coast man Morgan Waitoa.\r\nhttps:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-3Zx","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1641428534396.jpg?fit=1240%2C697&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-3Zx","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2488,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2015\/07\/21\/npec-2015-heartland-squad\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":0},"title":"NPEC 2015 Heartland Squad","author":"admin_hland","date":"July 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"- MEDIA RELEASE - The 2015 Ngati Porou East Coast RFU Heartland squad has been announced as follows: Tripoli Poi Pera Bishop Kareti Palmer Robert Rewi Morgan Wirepa Jnr Hone Haerewa Rik Waitoa Hoani Te Moana Rick Kernohan Donny Mill Lennon Carrington Tanetoa Parata Chance Hale Te Miini Kohere Smiler\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Club Rugby"","block_context":{"text":"Club Rugby","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/club-rugby\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_ec.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_ec.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_ec.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_ec.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":420,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/06\/01\/east-coast-vs-poverty-bay-video\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":1},"title":"“East Coast vs Poverty Bay” {Video}","author":"admin_hland","date":"June 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In association with http:\/\/npec.co.nz we bring you a FULL Video Replay of the Pre Season match between East Coast and Poverty Bay at Whakarua Park , Ruatoria on the 31st May 2014. - REPLAY - East Coast vs Poverty Bay 31st May 2014 { Pre Season } East Coast Line\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2140,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/12\/17\/new-npec-heartland-coach-for-2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":2},"title":"NEW NPEC HEARTLAND COACH FOR 2015","author":"admin_hland","date":"December 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby The East Coast RFU is pleased to announce the appointment of new Head Coach Willie Waitoa. Willie has played nearly 50 games in the Sky Blue jersey and is extremely loyal to it. He made a compelling presentation in his interview inspiring the panel to make the selection.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Heartland Championship"","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_ec.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_ec.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_ec.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_ec.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":390,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/05\/29\/east-coast-go-into-battle-with-poverty-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":3},"title":"East Coast go into battle with Poverty Bay","author":"admin_hland","date":"May 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby Whetu Haerewa has named his first squad in charge of Ngati Porou East Coast today for their pre-season match this Saturday , 31st May at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park against Poverty Bay. The honours over the past few years are quite even with East Coast losing the pre-season\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Heartland Championship"","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/rhlad_slide_ecpov.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13955,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/06\/03\/npec-team-line-up-named-for-centenary-match\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":4},"title":"NPEC Team Line Up Named for Centenary Match.","author":"admin_hland","date":"June 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"NPEC Coach Hosea Gear has named his 22 for the Centenary Match this weekend against Poverty Bay at Whakarua Park at 2pm. 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On the Reserves Bench we see:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/NpecvPovBay2021a.png?fit=848%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/NpecvPovBay2021a.png?fit=848%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/NpecvPovBay2021a.png?fit=848%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/NpecvPovBay2021a.png?fit=848%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2453,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2015\/05\/28\/npec-team-named-for-queens-birthday-clash\/","url_meta":{"origin":15347,"position":5},"title":"NPEC team named for Queens Birthday Clash","author":"admin_hland","date":"May 28, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby The match will be live Streamed at NPEC.CO.NZ Saturday 30th May 2015 from 12.30pm The following is the Ng\u0101ti Porou East Coast side to battle Poverty Bay this weekend. 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