William (Bill) George Kini, 9 July 1937 – 30 August 2012.
It’s a year ago this month since we said goodbye to our much loved dad, William (Bill) George Kini (Ngāti Māhaki – Makaawhio). The sadness comes in waves and envelopes us. We who were left behind to continue his legacy miss him so very much. Our hero, our adored, hardworking father who was once the darling of a nation and a beloved son of the people of Southland, now rests with his tīpuna.
Dad was a gold medal boxer who proved to be one of the great amateur boxers in New Zealand. His love for a sport and its fitness and training methods provided him with the knowledge that he continued to share with others through one-on-one boxing training in the home gyms he established on all properties that he and our mum lived in.
His other great love was rugby. He played beside Waka Nathan, Mackie Herewini, Pat Walsh and others while living in Auckland. This gave Dad many wonderful memories and friendships that lasted decades. He was lucky enough to stand beside these men and be inducted into the Māori Hall of Fame (Living Legends).
Dad’s hands were to become his tools in healing people with massage. His desire to help people feel better, to share his knowledge and to get them on the right track, proved to be a skill that would provide him with so many rewards and friendships. The Northland Rugby Union employed him as the team masseur for over 15 years and he travelled the country with them. Our loyal Dad felt in awe of such wonderful talent and was honoured to be a part of a movement that he thoroughly enjoyed.
Our Dad passed on with all of his beloved family surrounding him including his much-adored wife Jan, his sister Alberta and brother-in-law, Cyril McKay from Bluff, as well as his first- born mokopuna, Shanice, who travelled from Tom Price, Western Australia to be by his side. A part of our heart died with him that day a year ago but our pride will continue, generation after generation. Our dad was more than a father – he was a legend!
He is survived by his wife Janice Kini, his three sons, Brad, Jason and André Kini and his daughter Ferne, his adored seven moko and wonderful daughter-in-law and sons-in-law who he loved and appreciated. Nā Ferne Reimanis (née Kini).
Bill Kini on his retirement as masseuse of the Northland rugby team.
A young Bill Kini.
NZ Māori Sports Awards. Bill Kini third from right.
Our Great Southern Man
A man from the deep south
Rugged as a windblown ridge in Colac Bay
A man as calm as Lake Wānaka on a summer’s day
Strength and courage was his forte
Caring and respect was his mantra
Sports was his calling – bat, ball, and gloves
Commitment, dedication was the name of his game
Take it to the pinnacle he did, with silver and gold hanging from his neck
After sports came a loving wife, that was his way
Three boys and a girl were born and they were away
Instilling all the necessities – respect, love and courtesy, and all life’s tools you need along the way
Became grandfather, pōua he was called by his mokopuna
Loved them dearly, they always made him smile
Massage and sports medicine was a tangent taken with new vigor
“Go the taniwha” was the chant you heard
Life can deal you some crappy hands
And it’s how you deal with them that make you a true champion
Battle he will, round after round, taking the shots and coming back for more
We want you to rest my father, our pōua, our friend, go to the place where your tīpuna are, back down in the south where the mutton birds call and the waves crash against the pāua covered boulders of Bluff Point.
“Be at peace my father”
Nā Jason Kini (written while dad was in hospital August 2012).
The Final Round
The ring announcer has cleared the ring, the trainers and their assistants stand on the mat’s edge, and the timekeeper calls “seconds out!”
The crowd cheers with admiration for their life-long champion and he in turn acknowledges them with a knowing smile, a gentle nod and a confident raising of his glove.
He turns to the crowd and for a moment his raised glove shades his eyes from the glare of the light. He can see all their faces looking up at him and they each feel special and important to him… and they are.
That was his way… so caring, so inclusive, so humble.
His feet scuff the canvas as he steps one last time out into the fray, knowing this round is to be his last…
What an incredible fighter, such spirit and mana. He has fought so hard and endured so much, but now it’s his time to finally rest.
For those watching, they feel privileged to have been witness to his herculean effort, but now the final bell rings…
We are in awe of him…
And our love for him is complete and everlasting.
Nā André Kini.