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| Born | John Grey Taiaroa Teone Wiwi Taiaroa [1] 16 September 1862 Otakou, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 31 December 1907 (aged 45) Otago Harbour, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Otago Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Hōri Kerei Taiaroa (father) Tini Kerei Taiaroa (mother) Te Matenga Taiaroa (grandfather) Dick Taiaroa (brother) Thomas Ellison (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Lawyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Cricket career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1891/92–1898/99 | Hawke's Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First-class debut | 9 January 1892 v Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last First-class | 26 December 1898 v Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:CricketArchive,22 January 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Grey Taiaroa (16 September 1862 –31 December 1907),of Ngāi Tahu descent,was a New Zealand rugby union player. A halfback,he played nine matches for New Zealand in 1884—the warm-up in Wellington and all eight matches of the tour of New South Wales;New Zealand won all eight games. There were no test matches on the tour,as Australia did not play their first test match until 1899. [2] Taiaroa was the highest try scorer of the tour. [3]
Born in Otakou,the son of Hōri Kerei Taiaroa,a New Zealand Member of Parliament,Taiaroa played school-boy rugby for Otago Boys' High School and then for the Otago provincial side. He went on to set a national record in the long jump and represent Hawke's Bay in first-class cricket during the 1890s as an attacking batsman. [4] [5] [6]
In 1886 Taiaroa hit the headlines after signing his father's name on a promissory note. Despite a warrant being issued for his arrest,it was not served and the charges were later dropped. [7] [8]
He spent most of his working life as a lawyer in Hastings. He was accidentally drowned in Otago Harbour on 31 December 1907 [9] and his body was recovered at Karitane beach two weeks later. [10]
