Macfarlane Alexander (Mackie) Herewini

IWI: Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu

MARAE: Waitahanui (Taupo) Korohe (Turangi)Taihoa (Wairoa)

BIRTHPLACE: Mokai, Taupo 17 October 1939

PASSED: Auckland 21 May 2014

RUGBY (ALL BLACK #632) JOCKEY, BOXING, TENNIS, GOLF, LAWN BOWLS

Biography | tuhinga koi ora

Macfarlane Alexander Herewini was born in Mokai to Mac and Francis Haromia (nee Tohara) Herewini and his siblings were - Barbara, Alberta and Brother Sandy.

Mackie was educated Puhinui, Papatoetoe West and Otahuhu College.

His work life was in drainage, a freezing worker and a watersider.

Mackie married Rachel (nee Puckey) and they had a daughter Gayle and a son Mackie Jnr.

“MacFarlane Alexandra Piripi Herewini looked immaculate when he took the field. He was a dapper five eighths, his uniform bristled with attention, the collar and creases always looked in the right place, his socks were up and his boots neatly polished.

Everything about his play seemed the same as well. There was a snap and crackle about Herewini's play each time he played for Auckland and the All Blacks.

When he ran the blind his darting runs wafted him outside the defenses while his tactical kicking had a crisp edge to it. Herewini's instincts were about attack but as he rose up the rugby ladder, more restrictions were put on his play.

The All Blacks wanted to use their forwards to unravel the opposition and Herewini and the backs were to ice those offerings or kick them out of trouble when that appeared.

The five eighths, was involved in series against the Springboks, Lions and several lengthy tours to the UK which increased his appearances.

Anyone who could move from the remote back blocks of Mokai to play for Auckland as a teenager and then graduate to the All Blacks while still 21 and slight, was a fascinating study in sport.

Herewini looked like he could dance on ice without skates. That sort of ritual was captivating as snarling loose forwards attempted to sack the five eighths or remind him who bossed the field.

Trips to Eden Park to watch the All Black pair of Des Connor and Herewini were a magical exercise in watching how they could run a game of rugby. Connor's array of skills and swift pass to the dancing prancing Herewini showed how they became the industrious spine for sides fortunate to have their gifts.”

100 Greatest All Blacks – Wynne Gray

Achievements | tutukitanga

Rugby
• Maori All Blacks 1960,61,54,65,66,70,71
• All Blacks 1962,63, 64, 65, 66, 67 (All Black number 632) 32 matches and 32 points.
• Auckland 1958,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70 (137 matches)
• North Island 1963, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68
• All Black Trials 1960-63, 65-68,70
• Rest of NZ 1960
• Maori All Black Selector 1959 to 1975
• Otahuhu Rugby – Gallaher Shield – 1959, 60, 61, 63
• Manukau Rovers Gallaher Shield - 1968, 1973

Honours
• Tom French Cup recipient 1960, 1963
• Māori Sports Hall of Fame 2004

Jockey
• Started his apprenticeship at Alfriston (South Auckland) but withdrew when he got injured.

Boxing
• Mackie excelled at boxing representing Otahuhu College, Mackie won the Auckland Colleges boxing Title.

Tennis
• 1954 NZ Maori Junior Tennis Champs in Dunedin.
• Sunnyside Tennis Club (Papatoetoe) Club Champion, Doubles & mixed doubles, Interclub Winner
• South Auckland Tennis, Doubles & Mixed Champion
• Mangere Central Tennis Club, Doubles Champion & South Auckland Interclub winner
• NZ Maori Tennis, Open Doubles finalists.

Golf
• As a member of the Aviation Golf Club near Auckland Airport and a handicap of 7, Mackie won the ISEKI tournament, represented the club in pennants, and competed in many Maori Golf Championships.

Lawn Bowls
• Auckland Junior Bowls champion and an Auckland Junior representative and holder of many club titles.