Story: Māori rugby – whutupaoro

This photograph of Lieutenant Wirihana Puna of Aramoho, Whanganui, was taken around the 1860s. Puna was a lieutenant under the command of Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui (Major Kemp) during the New Zealand wars. In 1869, at the battle of Te Pōrere, Puna captured Te Kooti's war flag. It is likely that he was the first recorded Māori to play rugby. History records a 'Wirihana', the sole non-Pākehā player, playing for Wanganui Country against Wanganui Town in a 20-a-side game at Aramoho in 1872.