Bill Kini
William George Kini (9 July 1937 – 30 August 2012) was a New Zealand heavyweight boxer and rugby union prop. He won a gold medal for boxing at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and placed second in the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 July 1937 Winton, New Zealand |
| Died | 30 August 2012 (aged 75) Whangārei, New Zealand |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Boxing |
Biography
Kini was born in Winton in 1937. Of Ngāi Tahu descent, he was educated at Southland Technical College in Invercargill.[1]
He won the first of his seven New Zealand heavyweight boxing titles in 1959.[1] At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games he won the silver medal in the 81–91 kg (heavyweight) division.[2] Four years later, he won gold in the same division at the Kingston Commonwealth Games.[1]
In the early 1960s, Kini played prop for the Otahuhu rugby team in the Auckland club competition, winning the Gallaher Shield four times. He also captained the Auckland Māori rugby team.[3]
Kini and his family moved to Whangārei in 1980. He was the strapper and masseur for the Northland rugby team for 11 years until 2003.[3]
He was inducted into the New Zealand Māori Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[3]
Kini died in Whangārei in 2012, as a result of complications from a cancerous tumour on his spine.[1]
References
- Eves, Tim (19 September 2012). "Bill Kini a heavyweight in more than boxing". Northern Advocate. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- Profile at the New Zealand Olympic Committee website Archived 5 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- Laird, Lindy. "Team to honour Northland sport legend Bill Kini". Northern Advocate. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.