Tori (Sana Torium) Reid

IWI: Ngāti Porou

MARAE:

BIRTHPLACE: Tokomaru Bay September 1912

PASSED: Raukawa Hastings March 2003 (90yrs)

RUGBY (ALL BLACK #408)

Biography | tuhinga koi ora

Sana Torium Reid was born on 22 September 1912, in Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne, (parents unknown)

He married Hariata Rangiwhiua Hopere on 2 November 1936, in Hastings, They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He died on 19 March 2003, in Raukawa at the age of 90, and was buried in Hastings.

Tori (Sana Torium) Reid was born at Tokomaru Bay and educated at the Tokomaru Bay Native School, and later at the Tolaga Bay District HighSchool.

His first senior representative game in 1929 was at the age of 16 for the East Coast.

In 1936 The Rugby Almanack named him as one of the five best players in the Dominion.

In the 1950 Rugby Almanack a great tribute was paid to this great forward, In part, this was written: ‘An amazing match appearance record was completed by S.T.Reid (East Coast, Hawke's Bay, NZ Maori and NZ All Blacks) ‘During the New Zealand Māori tour of Australia, Tori Reid beat Sam Gemmell's record of 144 matches for all games when he appeared against Australia at Brisbane on June 11, and on his return to New Zealand his game for Hawke's Bay against Wellington on September 3 broke the record for most first-class matches in New Zealand — 122, held previously by J. C. Stringfellow.

This great Māori forward had played in 157 representative matches—including 27 for New Zealand and 14 for New Zealand Maori teams.

And now for a little, in conclusion, about another great Māori footballer — Tori Reid.

It was in the ‘Rugby Almanack of New Zealand’, 1950, that a great tribute was paid to this great forward, who was born at Tokomaru Bay in September, 1912. In part, this was written: ‘An amazing match appearance record was completed by S. T. Reid (East Coast, Hawke's Bay. New Zealand Maori Team and New Zealand) during the season, when he took into his keeping all records associated with the game in the matter of appearance in first-class contests.

‘During the New Zealand Māori tour of Australia, Tori Reid beat Sam Gemmell's record of 144 matches for all games when he appeared against Australia at Brisbane on June 11, and on his return to New Zealand his game for Hawke's Bay against Wellington on September 3 broke the record for most first-class matches in New Zealand — 122, held previously by J. C. Stringfellow.

‘Tori Reid entered the first-class arena in 1929, for East Coast against Waikato, at the age of 16 years; twenty years later he was still in the top flight as a forward.’

To the end of the 1949 season, this great Māori forward had played in 157 representative matches—including 27 for New Zealand and 14 for New Zealand Maori teams.

Achievements | tutukitanga

RUGBY ACHIEVEMENTS
• East Coast 1929, 30,31,32,33
• Tai Rawhiti 1929, 31, 35, 38, 39, 49
• Poverty Bay-East Coast-Bay of Plenty 1930
• Hawkes Bay 1934,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,45,46,47,48,49
• NZ Māori Trials 1930
• NZ XV (in Canada) 1936
• Centurions Club 1952
• North Island 1934,36,37,39
• Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay 1946
• NZ Trials 1935, 37,48
• NZ Māori All Blacks 1931, 36, 49
• All Blacks 1935, 36, 37

NZ Māori Rugby selector 1952-54

HONOURS
• Māori Sports Hall of Fame