Kia Rika
Died 2 May 1989
- Service number
- WWII 801567 AWMM
- Also known as
- Hetekia Rika AWMM
- Heke AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
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- War
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Hikurangi, North Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Mrs M. Rika (mother), Mangakahia, North Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 21 Jul 1943 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
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- WWII 801567 AWMM
- Military service
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Military decorations
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Training and Enlistment
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Truck Driver/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Nieuw Amsterdam AWMM Corporal/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 10th Reinforcements AWMM
- Jayforce Temporary Second Lieutenant Nominal rolls J-Force (R22440245) 2nd Divisional Cavalry Regiment, D Squadron Nominal rolls J-Force (R22440245) British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Japan, Main Body AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
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Medical history
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Last known rank
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Biographical information
- Kia Rika was the son of former All Black William (Wiremu) Pere (Frederick) Reka and (Anna) May (Anna-Mai) Tangiwhanau Rika (Rika-Heke), née Rudolph (Heke), of Pakotai. His brothers Frederick Ernest (Frederick John Rika-Heke), who served in the Royal New Zealand Navy, Heke Rika (Heke), John Frederick Rika (Heke), and Percy (Percival) Thomas Rika (Heke) also served.
Rika attended Pakotai Native School, Whangarei Boys High School, St Stephens School and Te Aute College. He was a noted high jumper in secondary school sports competitions and also played rugby. In July 1934, while playing rugby for Whangarei High School against Takapuna Grammar School, he fractured his left wrist.
During World War II, Rika continued to play rugby while serving in the Army. In August 1942 he was among the 1st Division players taking part in a trial at Eden Park ahead of a military rugby match organised to raise funds for patriotic purposes. He later served with A Company, 28 (Māori) Battalion in Italy and, after returning to New Zealand with the Battalion, served with the New Zealand occupation force in Japan.
After the war, Rika became a professional rugby league player in England, including for Halifax Rugby League Club. In February 1949 he married Jean Ingham of Halifax, with fellow New Zealander and rugby league player Ike Proctor serving as best man.
In May 1949, Rika and fellow New Zealander J. A. Macdonald played for Halifax against Bradford Northern at Wembley Stadium. Contemporary reports recorded considerable interest in the match, with 96,000 tickets sold in advance. Halifax was defeated by Bradford Northern.
Later that month, Rika appeared on BBC television with Charles Smith, Ike Proctor and Jack McDonald, together with Māori singer Inia Te Wiata, in an Empire Day programme. The four sportsmen performed a haka and Te Wiata sang Waiata Māori. The event was reported in New Zealand as the first British television programme presented by a New Zealand group.
Kia and Jean Rika had four children. Their grandson Craig Rika later played cricket for Yorkshire during the 1990s. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 2 May 1989 AWMM
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- Obituary
- POROPOROAKI - Obituaries
KIA RIKA Reg No 801567
Born 10 April 1919 - Died 2 May 1989
Kia attended Pakotai Native School, Whangarei Boys High School, St Stephens School and Te Aute College where he distinguished himself as a sportsman excelling in athletics, cricket and rugby.
Leaving College Kia worked for the Hikurangi Diary Factory until he enlisted in the Army. He was with the Engineers at Ngawha Springs, sailed to the Middle East with the 10th Reinforcements and joined 'A' Company of the Maori Battalion in Italy. After Cassino Kia proceeded to Aldershot in England where he was commissioned. He returned to New Zealand with the Battalion and served with the Occupational troops in Japan.
In 1947 Kia Rika who had been recruited to Rugby League by the Halifax Club played in the British Cup Final at Wembley - a highlight in any footballer's career. A crowd of 70,000 saw Halifax go down to Bradford Northern. Retired from football, Kia became Manager of two hotels in Halifax. He married, fathered four children and all in all lived in England for 28 years before returning to New Zealand with his wife Jean and their two youngest.
Returning to Whangarei Kia was soon back into Rugby League on the Northern Board of Control and as Manager of several Northern Representative teams. In September 1988 Kia took a trip down memory lane when he returned to Great Britain as a Guest of Honour at the Halifax Club Reunion. He was not in good health when he revisited his old haunts in the UK but was sustained by n1eeting old friends and family.
After his return home his condition deteriorated and in five months he was dead. He will be remembered for his undoubted physical prowess and his never failing kindly nature. (April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion 50th Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet) AWMM - Memorial name
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Memorial
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Related Serviceperson
Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945. Personal page
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/soldier/kia-rika
Further Reference - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Further Reference - Nominal rolls - Embarkation rolls J-force personnel from Italy Middle East to Japan. Archives New Zealand (R22440245)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22440245
Sources Used - J Force Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Force
Further Reference - Romano, G. (2021, March 4). Jayforce: 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/jayforce
Further Reference - Page 6 Advertisements Column 3
Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 92, Issue 129, 24 February 1949, Page 6
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBHETR19490224.2.100.3
Further Reference - Untitled, Marlborough Express, Volume 84, Issue 93, 21 April 1949, Page 6
Using this ite
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX19490421.2.75
Further Reference - ATHLETICS. Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 93, 20 April 1936, Page 14
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19360420.2.202
Further Reference - Maoris Televised By B.B.C. Chronicle (Levin), 2 June 1949, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHRONL19490602.2.6.4?
Further Reference - BOY HURT AT FOOTBALL. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21857, 20 July 1934, Page 10
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19340720.2.50
Further Reference - Strong North Army Team Chosen To Meet South Representatives
Northern Advocate, 8 July 1942, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19420708.2.14
Further Reference - N.Z. League Football Players in Britain. Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 3959, 16 April 1949, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/RMPOST19490416.2.37
Further Reference - 28 Maori Battalion Profile Page
https://28maoribattalion.org.nz/soldier/kia-rika
Further Reference - Rugby League Project Profile
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/kia-rika/summary.html
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945. Personal page
- References
- Loughnan, R. (1963). Divisional Cavalry. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 12 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1943 to 31st December, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 12: WW2 164 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Nominal rolls - Embarkation rolls J-force personnel from Italy Middle East to Japan. Archives New Zealand (R22440245)
p.74 - Brocklebank, L.W. (1997). Jayforce : New Zealand and the military occupation of Japan, 1945-48. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
- Parr, A. (2012). The occupiers : New Zealand veterans remember post-war Japan. Auckland, N.Z. : Penguin.
- Coffey, J., & Wood, B. (2008). 100 years : Māori Rugby League, 1908-2008. Wellington, N.Z. : Huia.
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