Eric Matahere Ropiha ONZM

IWI: Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitane, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa

MARAE: Motuiti (Foxton)

BIRTHPLACE: 5 June 1925

PASSED: 25 November 2013 Palmerston North

EQUINE SPORTS

Biography | tuhinga koi ora

Eric was born to Leni Tetakau Tapiana (1889 - 22 Sep 1945) and Ellen Ruth (nee Sciascia Ellen Ruth (2 Nov 1892 - 12 Jun 1952)

His siblings were…
Waina, Renata Te Rahui, Pare Te Momo, Raukura, Alexander Te Rangi Wawahia
Robert Ikaka, Joe, Dudley Manukau, (Eric Matahere) Ratohinga, Raymond Parekiore
Leni Takau, Rita Ruta, Elsie Mahinarangi, Hokowhitu David, Jean Rangiri

Eric married Lola (nee ) their children were Anne, Judy, Eric and Megan

Celebrating a legend – Eric Rophia

On the 26th February 2006 the whanau/hapu of Ngati Kere, Rongomaraeroa o Tamatea Taiwhenua, paid tribute to 80year old, Mr Eric Ropiha, in celebration of his induction Into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame and for his contribution to Maoridom and to the New Zealand Racing industry.

Part of the celebration included the presentation of a greenstone mere presented to Mr Ropiha by Mr Donald Tipene on behalf of the Taiwhenua o Tamatea.

Mr Ropiha has trained horses for four Governor Generals Sir Willoughby Norrie and Sir Bernard Fergusson, and two Prime Ministers with over 900 winners to his credit.

He had a number of top-class gallopers through his hands, including the 1960 Caulfield Cup winner Ilumquh who was twice placed in the Melbourne Cup and Fans also finished third in the Flemington feature for him.

Ropiha's first major success came with the 1952 New Zealand Cup winner Conclusion and other feature race victories followed with Roman Consul (New Zealand Derby), Routine (NZ Oaks), Baraboo (Railway Handicap), Baloo (Canterbury Gold Cup-twice) and Judge (Grand National Hurdles).

Ropiha’s major wins in NZ included the 1952 New Zealand Cup (Conclusion), Roman Consul (NZ Derby), Routine (NZ Oaks), Baraboo (Railway Handicap), Ajasco (Railway Handicap), Silver Liner (Railway Handicap), Baloo (Canterbury Gold Cup twice), Harp (Hawkes Bay Cup) and Judge (Grand National Hurdles).

Honoured with an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996, Ropiha also enjoyed a long and rewarding association with the Fell family's Fairdale Stud.

"Eric was at the top of his game in 1965 and we chose him to train Chapel Belle, a filly we retained from the first crop of Pakistan," Gerald Fell said.

"She became Pakistan's first winner and Eric trained more than 250 winners for us. He had Ajasco, who won the Stewards and the Railway Handicap, and he had her first foal Silver Liner who also won the Stewards and the Railway.

"Chapel Belle was the dam of Harp and Eric won the Hawke's Bay Cup with her and she was beaten a whisker in the Auckland Cup and he also had Tiptoe, who won the George Adams at Trentham when it was a Group One race.

"Eric was an absolute master at setting a horse for a race and having it peak on the day, a great conditioner with a great instinct about horses. He trained for some of the aristocracy of New Zealand racing - two Governor-Generals and Sir Woolf Fisher and people of the like.

"Eric was self-made and was a shy, but very proud person. He was a real gentleman, widely respected and was always immaculately dressed, a fine fellow.

"After he retired from training in 2001, he became heavily involved in the show jumping world and again was well-respected and successful."

Māori Sports Hall of Fame