Wiremu Rangi Akuira, PNBHS 1918 - 1920

Earlier this term we were visited by Tania Rehu and Mei Rehu, and members of Wiremu Akuira’s whānau, who presented the school with Wiremu’s 1920 1st XV medal.

Wiremu Rangi Akuira from Rangiotū attended PNBHS from 1918 to 1920. Playing at halfback, he was in the 1st XV in 1919 and 1920. The 1920 1st XV made the final of the first Moascar Cup competition: a new cup, it was decided that a national knock-out tournament would be held to determine the first holder of the now-famous trophy. PNBHS lost to Christchurch BHS in extra-time, in the mud, by 1-nil, the one point being awarded for a touch down in goal, which would until recently have resulted in a five-metre scrum.

Wiremu was also a Manawatū junior rugby representative. He was described by Manawatū Rugby Union president Joe Ongley as one of the greatest players from Palmerston North Boys' High School. He went on to represent the NZ Māori rugby team, being the top points scorer in the 1922 win against Australia.

He was an electric linesman before enlistment and joined the 20th Battalion serving in Greece, Crete and North Africa in the Second World War. He was captured in North Africa in Libya, in 1941, by a German Panzer Division at Belhamed and sent off to an Italian prisoner of war camp called Gruppignano. Here under suspicious circumstances, he died of food poisoning on 31 May 1943, aged 39. He is buried in the Udine War Cemetery.

We would like to thank Tania and Mei for gifting their great-Uncle’s medal back to the school – a wonderful taonga and piece of our history.