Tu Wyllie

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New Zealand Parliament
Tutekawa Wyllie
Tu Wyllie.jpg
Wyllie in 2013
Birth nameTutekawa Wyllie
Date of birth (1954-10-24) 24 October 1954 (age 70)
Place of birth Manutuke, New Zealand
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
School Gisborne Boys' High School
University Victoria University of Wellington
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1978–83 Wellington 86 (84)
Correct as of 19 December 2023
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1980 New Zealand 1 (4)
1979–82 New Zealand Māori 13 (4)
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Te Tai Tonga
In office
1996–1999
YearsTermElectorateListParty
1996 1999 45th Te Tai Tonga 36 NZ First

Wyllie represented Te Tai Tonga as a member of Parliament from 1996 to 1999 for the New Zealand First Party.

He defeated 29-year parliamentary veteran Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan with a majority of 285 votes [6] enabling New Zealand First to capture all five Māori electorates in the 1996 election (including Te Tai Tonga). When the Tight five led by Tau Henare splintered from New Zealand First and created the Mauri Pacific party, Wyllie chose to remain loyal to the party core. During the 1999 election he sought re-election as MP for Te Tai Tonga, but chose not to stand on the party list. He was defeated by Mahara Okeroa of the Labour Party by 4522 votes. [7]

During his term in Parliament, Wyllie also played for the parliamentary rugby team. [8]

Post Parliamentary career

Protest against the sale of Young Nicks head

Following his defeat in the 1999 election Wyllie returned to Gisborne in an effort to assist Ngai Tamanuhiri to prevent the sale of Young Nick's Head (Te Kuri), a place of historical, and spiritual significance to local Māori. Wyllie stated that "It is the absolute jewel in the crown because Young Nick’s Head, or Te Kuri as we know it, is our equivalent to Hikurangi for Ngāti Porou and Aorangi or Aoraki for Ngāi Tahu. It is our mountain, it is what identifies us as an iwi and we have some real issues about what’s going to happen to it in the future". [9] Ngai Tamanuhri tribal members led by Wyllie conducted a protest march and pitched their tents on the grounds of New Zealand Parliament. [10]

He later lost his mandate as iwi spokesperson after he filed a judicial application to overturn Michael Cullen's decision to approve the sale of the landmark. [11] Young Nicks Head was consequently sold to American millionaire John Griffin.

Health issues

Wyllie was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), having suffered numerous concussions during his rugby career. As of early 2023, he was no longer able to speak or move unaided. [12] [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tu Wyllie All Blacks profile". allblacks.com. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  2. Keene, Howard (8 September 1998). "Groomed for public life". The Press. p. 5.
  3. "Rugby cup". Gisborne Photo News. 22 May 1974. p. 17. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. "Parliament". Truth. 18 October 1996. p. 10.
  5. 1 2 Speden, Graeme (25 November 1996). "Tu does what is asked of him". The Dominion. p. 2.
  6. O'Hanlon, Sinead (29 October 1996). "Tribal leaders under attack". The Press. p. 1.
  7. "Te Tai Tonga electorate profile". Parliamentary Library Te Pātaka Rangahau a Te Whare Pāremata. October 2005. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  8. "Revenge chance". Southland Times. 22 July 1998. p. 15.
  9. Farrar, David (6 December 2012). "Treaty Settlements". Kiwiblog .
  10. "Headland sale protesters leave Parliament". New Zealand Herald. 13 August 2002.
  11. "Sacked by iwi, Wyllie keeps up fight for site". New Zealand Herald. 26 August 2002.
  12. Lisa Owen (9 September 2025). "Former All Black's wife says NZ Rugby never acknowledged CTE caused by the game". RNZ.
  13. Dylan Cleaver (23 March 2023). "Inside the years-long fight to have a former All Black's CTE recognised by ACC". The Spinoff.
New Zealand Parliament
New constituency Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tonga
1996–1999
Succeeded by