Waka Joseph Nathan

IWI: Ngāpuhi, Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu

MARAE: Taita (Dargaville) Kaitumutumu (Huntly)

BIRTHPLACE: Auckland, 8 July 1940

PASSED: Auckland 24 September 2021

RUGBY (ALL BLACK #627)

Biography | tuhinga koi ora

Waka Nathan was born to Samuel Taia Nathan and Irene Huakore (nee Randall) Waka’s mother is a half-sister to former All Black Captain Taine Randell’s grandfather.

His siblings include: Papatuanuku (Papa) Buddy QSM, Potahirangiua (Rangi), George (Whangai), Henry (Whangai), Lillian, Cowley, June, and Mary.

Waka’s mother is a half-sister to former All Black Captain Taine Randell’s grandfather.

Waka was educated at Mangere Central Primary School and Otahuhu College.

Waka married Janis (nee Horton) and they had three daughters Alana, Claudine and Janine

His work life started out as a freezing worker, a long stint in sales for Lion Breweries, Waka was a boner at Westfield Freezing works, an Insurance salesman for Combined Insurance, a hotelier purchasing the Mangere Tavern, Waka and Janis owned the Pork Bone Shop at Mangere Bridge, before retiring in 2005.

The All Blacks great once described by Sir Colin Meads as "the most virile runner with the ball in hand"

Nathan debuted for the All Blacks in 1962 on a tour of Australia where he played both tests against the Wallabies.

He was a member of the All Blacks tour of Britain in 1963-64, despite having a broken jaw, where he scored 11 tries in 15 matches and earned the nickname Le Panthère Noir – The Black Panther – from the French.

The world-class flanker played 14 tests for the All Blacks with 14 wins in the black jersey.

After retiring from playing, he went on to play a pivotal role for the New Zealand Māori, working as a selector and coach between 1971-77 and managing the team on their tour of Wales in 1982.

As renowned rugby journalist Phil Gifford wrote for the Herald in February, he's a man without whom it's possible Māori rugby might not have survived.

"Waka Nathan is far too modest to make any such claims, but when he stepped into the coaching job Māori rugby was on the skids. By the time he stepped down, in 1977, the team's role in New Zealand sport was again secure," Gifford wrote.

Nathan was given the honour from New Zealand Rugby to run onto the field and start the proceedings for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

"It is remarkable that his contribution to rugby spanned more than six decades as a player, coach, selector and administrator and he was fittingly awarded the Steinlager Salver for outstanding services to rugby in 2018.

Achievements | tutukitanga

RUGBY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Auckland East Roller Mills 1954
• Otahuhu College 1st XV 1956, 57
• Otahuhu Rugby Club Seniors 1959 – 1969
X9 Gallaher Shield Wins
• Auckland 1959,60,61,62,63,65,66,67
88 games, 51 points
• North Island 1960,61,63,65,66,67
• All Black Trials 1961,62,63,65,67
• NZ XV 1960, 66
• Rest OF NZ 1960
• Māori All Blacks 1959,60, 61, 65, 66
Witnessed Albie Pryor being sent off in the Test v Tonga
• All Blacks 1962, 63,64,66,67
• NZ Māori All Blacks selector 1971-1977
• 1982 NZ Māori All Blacks manager to Wales

HONOURS
• Tom French Cup 1962, 1966
• NZ Maori selector 1971-77
• NZ Rugby Union Councillor 1980, 81, 82
• President of the Auckland RFU 2003-04.
• 2004 Inducted to the Māori Sports Hall of Fame
• 2008 – 2021 Kaumatua & Trustee, Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards
• 2011 Appointed as the Ambassador to the Rugby World Cup.
• Member Barbarians Rugby Club
• Waka Nathan Challenge Cup (Auckland pre-season rugby competition)
• 2018 Steinlager Salver Award, NZR’s highest recognition for services to rugby