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Story: Māori and sport – hākinakina

Simon Wi Rutene

Video file

Skiier Simon Wi Rutene is profiled in this 1995 television news item. He represented New Zealand in four Winter Olympics, beginning with the 1984 Winter Olypmics, and was a dominant national champion at skiing. As the video illustrates, Wi Rutene was proud of his Māori heritage, wearing a drawn-on moko (facial tattoo) while skiing.

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TVNZ Television New Zealand

Courtesy of Snow Sports New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Māori and sport – hākinakina – Notable Māori sportspeople, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/41505/simon-wi-rutene (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 May 2013.