Keita Meretana
Encyclopedia
Keith Mildon of Ngāti Kahungunu
, is a former professional wrestler and heavyweight wrestling champion of New Zealand from Wairoa
, New Zealand
.
and nephew of Ike Robin
, the first professional wrestling champion of New Zealand, began wrestling in 1951, under the tuition
of Anton Koolmann
in Wellington
, and for eight years wrestled mainly in the East Coast, Bay of Plenty
, Hawke's Bay
and Wellington areas
.
In 1952, he was awarded the trophy for the most scientific wrestler in Gisborne
.
In May 1959, at the age 26 with weights 16 stone 6 lbs, he turned professional and made his debut with two bouts against the Australian, Ricky Wallace, wrestling a draw with him at Hawera
on 30 May and defeated him on Queen's Birthday weekend in Auckland
. After that he met the team which visited New Zealand, led by Jack Bence (United States), André Drapp (France), Braka Cortez (Brazil) and several others and joined with Jack Bence.
In the offseason from wrestling, he was a truck-driver in Wellington and participated in Māori Church Welfare work and was working with Nagti Poneke in this field. When the 1960 wrestling season opened in New Zealand, he challenged all the overseas visiting wrestlers: Lou Newman (United States), Herby Freeman (New York), Seymour Koenig (New York) and Ken Kenneth, a New Zealander who had returned from six years of campaigning in the United States.
On 3 October 1959, he defeated Lofty Binnie and won the heavyweight wrestling title of New Zealand. Kenneth claimed the New Zealand title, but rightly it belonged to Keith Meretana, since Kenneth had been absent from New Zealand for six years, and under New Zealand rules, the title is forfeited after two years' absence from the country. Meretana had not yet been beaten by any New Zealand wrestler by a straight fall, and his claim to the title therefore stood. He was often billed as the New Zealand Māori title-holder, but as he pointed out, he was the New Zealand title-holder, irrespective of race.
During 1960, he spent three months campaigning in Australia, and as a preliminary to his contests, he performed a haka
, which was very popular with audiences. When he appeared on Australian TV, he wore his full Māori regalia
.
In 1961, Keith Meretana of Wairoa, 6 feet, 16 stone 10 pounds, 30 years old, left his native land for Honolulu under contract to a well-known wrestling promoter
, Al Karasick, and went from there for two years of contracts in the United States
. He also competed in Great Britain
, Australia
and India
.
Since he turned professional to June 1961, Keith Meretana has won 25 matches, lost 25 and drew 5.
Keita was a top-line wrestler on British television
programmes.
at the Gospel Hall, Levin
, where he married Miss Tangiwai Tihema, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs R. Tihema of Levin. Miss Tihema of Ngati Raukawa
, granddaughter of the late David Raunini Tatana, M.B.E. of Levin, a descendant of Te Rauparaha
, has worked for ten years as an Agrade cook at the Levin Hospital and Training School.
Both Māori and European delicacies were served at the reception, and among the vocal items was one given by Hannah Tatana, cousin of the bride.
Guests included Mr and Mrs Ike Robin
, O.B.E. of Hastings
(grand uncle and aunt of the groom) and Mr Watarangi Pohe of Putiki (grand uncle of the bride).
Mr and Mrs Mildon made their home in Wellington.
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
, is a former professional wrestler and heavyweight wrestling champion of New Zealand from Wairoa
Wairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Career
Keith Mildon, third son of the Mr L. W. Mildon and Mrs C. Mildon of WairoaWairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
and nephew of Ike Robin
Ike Robin
Ihakara Te Tuku Rapana, MBE was a New Zealand sportsman, businessman, orator and member for the Maori Anglican Church...
, the first professional wrestling champion of New Zealand, began wrestling in 1951, under the tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
of Anton Koolmann
Anton Koolmann
Anton Koolmann was a wrestler and coach from Kuusalu Parish, Estonia who took part at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.-Career:...
in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, and for eight years wrestled mainly in the East Coast, Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
and Wellington areas
Wellington Region
The Wellington region of New Zealand occupies the southern end of the North Island.-Governance:The official Wellington Region, as administered by the Wellington Regional Council covers the conurbation around the capital city, Wellington, and the cities of Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Upper Hutt, each...
.
In 1952, he was awarded the trophy for the most scientific wrestler in Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
.
In May 1959, at the age 26 with weights 16 stone 6 lbs, he turned professional and made his debut with two bouts against the Australian, Ricky Wallace, wrestling a draw with him at Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
on 30 May and defeated him on Queen's Birthday weekend in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. After that he met the team which visited New Zealand, led by Jack Bence (United States), André Drapp (France), Braka Cortez (Brazil) and several others and joined with Jack Bence.
In the offseason from wrestling, he was a truck-driver in Wellington and participated in Māori Church Welfare work and was working with Nagti Poneke in this field. When the 1960 wrestling season opened in New Zealand, he challenged all the overseas visiting wrestlers: Lou Newman (United States), Herby Freeman (New York), Seymour Koenig (New York) and Ken Kenneth, a New Zealander who had returned from six years of campaigning in the United States.
On 3 October 1959, he defeated Lofty Binnie and won the heavyweight wrestling title of New Zealand. Kenneth claimed the New Zealand title, but rightly it belonged to Keith Meretana, since Kenneth had been absent from New Zealand for six years, and under New Zealand rules, the title is forfeited after two years' absence from the country. Meretana had not yet been beaten by any New Zealand wrestler by a straight fall, and his claim to the title therefore stood. He was often billed as the New Zealand Māori title-holder, but as he pointed out, he was the New Zealand title-holder, irrespective of race.
During 1960, he spent three months campaigning in Australia, and as a preliminary to his contests, he performed a haka
Haka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
, which was very popular with audiences. When he appeared on Australian TV, he wore his full Māori regalia
Regalia
Regalia is Latin plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a Sovereign.The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'...
.
In 1961, Keith Meretana of Wairoa, 6 feet, 16 stone 10 pounds, 30 years old, left his native land for Honolulu under contract to a well-known wrestling promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
, Al Karasick, and went from there for two years of contracts in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He also competed in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Since he turned professional to June 1961, Keith Meretana has won 25 matches, lost 25 and drew 5.
Keita was a top-line wrestler on British television
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
programmes.
Wedding
1 July 1967 over 450 guests attended the weddingWedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
at the Gospel Hall, Levin
Levin, New Zealand
Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....
, where he married Miss Tangiwai Tihema, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs R. Tihema of Levin. Miss Tihema of Ngati Raukawa
Ngati Raukawa
Ngāti Raukawa is a Māori iwi with traditional bases in the Waikato, Taupo and Manawatū/Horowhenua regions of New Zealand. In 2006, 29,418 Māori registered their affiliation with Ngāti Raukawa.- Early History :...
, granddaughter of the late David Raunini Tatana, M.B.E. of Levin, a descendant of Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
, has worked for ten years as an Agrade cook at the Levin Hospital and Training School.
Both Māori and European delicacies were served at the reception, and among the vocal items was one given by Hannah Tatana, cousin of the bride.
Guests included Mr and Mrs Ike Robin
Ike Robin
Ihakara Te Tuku Rapana, MBE was a New Zealand sportsman, businessman, orator and member for the Maori Anglican Church...
, O.B.E. of Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
(grand uncle and aunt of the groom) and Mr Watarangi Pohe of Putiki (grand uncle of the bride).
Mr and Mrs Mildon made their home in Wellington.