North Island rugby league team

New Zealand rugby league team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The North Island rugby league team is a rugby league team that represents the North Island of New Zealand. They first played in 1920 against the touring England team in Napier, Hawke's Bay. However the primary purpose of the side was to play against the South Island team, with the match often serving as a trial type match to chose the New Zealand international side.

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North Island rugby league team
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Inter island matches

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1920

Ernie Herring (Maritime)
Norm Loveridge (Marist)

The England team was touring New Zealand following their tour of Australia where they had played 13 matches. They played Auckland, Rotorua, South Auckland (Waikato), New Zealand, and King Country, before a match was organised for them against a North Island team at Napier in the Hawke's Bay on August 4. The North Island team was relatively weak with only 8 of the 13 players chosen being New Zealand representatives when ordinarily the entire side would have been national representatives. The side included 5 local Hawke's Bay players (Pat Burrows, Edmund Downing, Percival Exeter, Con McCarthy, and Henry Pring). Aside from a loss to Auckland in their first game the England side made short work of all domestic opposition, including this North Island side who they thrashed 46-5.

4 August North Island 5-46 England McLean Park, Napier  
3:00 Try: Edmund Downing
Pen: Eric Grey
[1] Try: Billy Stone 3, Danny Hurcombe 2, Arthur Skelhorne 2, Jim Bacon, Doug Clark, Jonty Parkin
Con: Ben Gronow
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: G Fraser

1925

1925 saw the first ever 'proper' North Island rugby league team match in what was to become a near annual fixture over the ensuing decades. The match was played in "unfavourable conditions" at Carlaw Park before 4,000 spectators, making "good football out of the question". The match was largely a battle of the forwards though North Island backs Lou Brown, Ben Davidson, and Horace Dixon all crossed for tries. Forward Ernie Herring had an outstanding game scoring a hat trick. Frank Delgrosso struggled with his goal kicking in the conditions, converting just one of their 7 tries. Neil Mouat scored all of the South Island's points with a try and 3 penalties. At halftime Neville St George came on for the North Island after Alf Townsend retired with a broken rib.[2]

27 June North Island 27–9 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
2:45 Try: Lou Brown, Ben Davidson, Ernie Herring 3, Horace Dixon, Bert Avery
Con: Frank Delgrosso
[3] Try: Neil Mouat
Pen: Neil Mouat 3
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Walter Ripley

1926

(left) Peckham passing out to Littlewood, and (right) Littlewood breaking away for his try

The entire North Island team was composed of Auckland players with the exception of Wally Desmond from Wellington. Unlike the previous season which saw just 4,000 attend the match the crowd for the 1926 edition was an enormous 18,000 with the match described as "brilliant". The South Island backs were said to be "Herculean", "fighting like tigers". The northern backs were far to clever though and they put on several tries with the margin likely to have been larger if not for Peckham and Cole leaving the field through injury in the second half leaving them 2 players short.

3 July North Island 31–22 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
2:45 Try: Ivan Littlewood, Wally Desmond, Ben Davidson, Jack Kirwan, Hector Cole 2, Bert Avery
Con: Craddock Dufty 5
[4] Try: G Brittenden, T Callentire, Jack Wright, Len Mason
Con: Frank Henry, Neil Mouat
Pen: Frank Henry, Neil Mouat 2
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Les Bull

1927

24 September North Island 13–8 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Claude List, Stan Raynor 2
Con: Craddock Dufty 2
[5] Try: Woods, Hand
Con: Sullivan
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: William Mincham

1928

28 July North Island 44–8 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Roy Hardgrave 2, Hec Brisbane 3, Stan Raynor, Frank Delgrosso 2, Lou Hutt, Tom Timms
Con: Craddock Dufty, Frank Delgrosso 5
Pen: Craddock Dufty
[6] Try: J Spillane, Goodall
Con: J Spillane
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Les Bull

1929

Len Scott was injured during the match and replaced by Allan Seagar for the North Island while for the South Island Sanders was injured and replaced by Doogan. In past years the North Island team was dominated by players from the Auckland competition however the North Island team on this occasion featured players from outside Auckland such as Ted Meyer, Dick Trautvettor, Bob Stephenson, Joe Menzies, Tom Timms, and Tassie Bergan.

7 September North Island 13–22 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Rod Hamilton, Ted Meyer, Frank Delgrosso
Con: Charles Gregory, Frank Delgrosso
[7] Try: Alf Townsend, Johnny Dodds, Norm Griffiths, Mick O'Brien
Con: E Bond 2
Pen: E Bond 3
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Percy Rogers

1930

For the North Island v South Island trial the Devonport and Ponsonby clubs gave permission for their jerseys to be worn by the respective sides.[8] Mick O’Brien of the South Island team broke his tibia late in the match.

14 June North Island 22-22 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
2:45 Try: Hec Brisbane 2, Alan Clarke, Tom Timms
Con: Craddock Dufty 4
Pen: Craddock Dufty
[9] Try: Herbert Pearce, T McKenzie, Mick O'Brien, Jim Calder
Con: Herbert Pearce 2, Bert Eckhoff
Pen: Herbert Pearce, Bert Eckhoff
Referee: Les Bull

1931

The North Island had one of their largest ever wins over the South Island. Pat Meehan of the Marist club scored 4 tries, with New Zealand internationals Claude List (3), Edwin Abbott (2), Hec Brisbane (2), and Alan Clarke also scoring. Clarke also kicked 5 conversions and a penalty for 15 individual points. For the South Island Falgar scored 2 tries, with Johnny Dodds scoring a try and kicking their lone conversion.

15 August North Island 52–23 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Pat Meehan 4, Claude List 3, Edwin Abbott 2, Hec Brisbane 2, Alan Clarke
Con: Pat Meehan, Claude List, Alan Clarke 5
Pen: Alan Clarke
[10] Try: C.E. Falgar 2, R.A. Jorgensen, Johnny Dodds, Jonas Masters
Con: Johnny Dodds
Referee: Les Bull

1932

Bert Cooke (rugby) with a clearing kick for the North Island.

Jim Amos left the field with an injured shoulder for the South Island team and was replaced by E O'Brien. Bert Cooke made his North Island debut and played brilliantly, scoring three tries for the winners in front of a crowd of 15,000. He had only recently converted to rugby league but his performance was instrumental in his selection for the New Zealand test team. Len Scott also scored three tries with Claude List crossing for one. Albert Laing converted three of the North Island's seven tries. Laing also made his debut for New Zealand after his effort, while Scott and List also gained New Zealand selection once more after having debuted for New Zealand in 1928. For the South Island J. Devonport and E. Hamberger scored a try each. Jim Amos had kicked two goals before being replaced. Jonas Masters kicked their other three goals.

23 July North Island 27–18 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Len Scott 3, Bert Cooke 3, Claude List
Con: Albert Laing 3
[11] Try: J Devonport, E Hamberger
Con: Jonas Masters, Jim Amos
Pen: Jonas Masters 2, Jim Amos
Drop: E Hamberger
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Percy Rogers

1933 Not Played

1934

Stan Prentice taking a pass from Roy Powell for the North Island team.

The match was described as "by far the most brilliant North-South match seen in Auckland for many years". The South Island led 13-3 at the half time break before a magnificent rally by the North Island saw them overcome the deficit and draw level following tries to George Tittleton and Bert Cooke, both of which were converted by R.E. Smith from the Hawke's Bay. The North side extended their lead through tries to Cliff Satherley, Wally Tittleton, Cooke, and then Lou Hutt before the South Island scored a consolation try to Billy Glynn.

1 September North Island 36–18 South Island Carlaw Park  
3:00 Try: George Tittleton, Wally Tittleton, R.E. Smith, Stan Prentice, Bert Cooke 2, Lou Hutt, Cliff Satherley
Con: George Tittleton 3, R.E. Smith 3
[12] Try: M Morris, T O’Connor, Billy Glynn 2
Con: P Scott 2, E Hamberger
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Percy Rogers

1935

This was the 10th inter-island match stretching back to 1925. The North Island had won 7, the South Island had won 1 in 1929, with a draw in 1930. Roy Bright, Wilf Hassan and McNeil (Richmond) were selected to play for the North Island but were unavailable. The North Island had 3 players debuting, Bill Telford, Ted Mincham, and W. Large (Hawke's Bay).[13]

17 August North Island 19-18 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Lou Brown, Bert Cooke 2, Roy Powell, Lou Hutt
Con: Cliff Satherley 2
[14] Try: Bill McNeight, Billy Glynn, P Serra 2
Con: Jim Amos, L Young 2
Referee: Maurice Wetherill

1936

During the match Reg Haslam was running with the ball when he began falling into a hole which had fallen into the ground. In the meantime he had passed the ball and play moved away but was forced to stop once the referee realised what had happened. It had formed near a drain where the water had washed away the soil beneath the ground. A ball boy was photographed standing in the hole ‘buried’ to his waist.[15] The gate receipts for the match were £608 19/ with 15,000 in attendance at the match and the trial curtain-raiser.

11 July North Island 21-16 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Lou Brown 2, Roy Bright, Wally Tittleton, Harold Tetley
Con: John Anderson 2
Pen: John Anderson
[16] Try: E Hendry, J McCarthy
Con: Ces Davison
Pen: Ces Davison 4
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Percy Rogers

1937 Not played

1938

Rangi Chase who scored 2 tries for the North Island).
Angus Gault, try scorer for the North Island.

Brian Riley was initially named to play for the North Island side but as he was unable to get leave from work to potentially tour Australia if selected he was replaced in the North Island side. The result showed the absolute domination of the Auckland competition over other parts of New Zealand with 12 of the 13 players drawn from the Auckland club competition. Joe Cootes was the only player from outside Auckland, playing in Wellington. For the North Island Des Herring scored 3 tries, and Rangi Chase 2, with 7 other players (Gordon Midgley, Walter Brimble, Jack Satherley, Joe Cootes, Angus Gault, Jack Brodrick, and Clarry McNeil) also crossing the line. Jack Smith kicked 10 conversions and also kicked a penalty. The only scorer for the South Island was P. Scott who kicked a penalty.

21 May North Island 55-2 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
1:30 Try: Gordon Midgley, Rangi Chase 2, Walter Brimble, Des Herring 3, Jack Satherley, Joe Cootes, Angus Gault, Jack Brodrick, Clarry McNeil
Con: Jack Smith 10
Pen: Jack Smith
[17] Pen: P Scott Referee: Frank Thompson

1939

Wally Tittleton was chosen as the North Island captain while Rex King captained the South Island.

8 July North Island 35-13 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Roy Nurse 2, Wally Tittleton, Laurie Mills, Dave Solomon 2, Pita Ririnui
Con: Jack Hemi 3, Dave Solomon
Pen: Jack Hemi 3
[18] Try: Ces Davison, J Clarke, Rex King
Con: Ces Davison
Pen: Ces Davison
Referee: Ralph Otto

1940-43 Not Played

1944

This was the first time since 1939 that the North Island v South Island match had been played. The North Island won comfortably scoring 9 tries to 3. Roy Nurse was the only North Island player who had previously played for them with the other 12 on debut. Ralph Martin had played for Manukau from 1940 to 1944 had moved to Wellington during the year for his army training and had joined the Korodale club and also represented Wellington following that point. Hawea Mataira had originally been selected but was travelling to Wellington with the Auckland Waterside Workers team to play in their annual fixture with Wellington Waterside and was replaced by Ririnui but then on match day he himself was replaced in the side by Wellington's F. Andrews who was in his first year of rugby league. Owen Brooks from the Waikato had a remarkable day scoring 3 tries and kicking 8 conversions for a personal tally of 25 tries. Joe Murray from the Manukau club also scored 3 tries. Pouvi (Robert) Salaia, one of the first Pacific born players involved in New Zealand rugby league, scored for the North Island. For the South Island New Zealand international John Newton scored twice and Ces Davison converted all three of their tries.

16 September North Island 43-15 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Robert Salaia, Owen Brooks 3, Joe Murray 3, John Rutherford, Fred James
Con: Owen Brooks 8
[19] Try: John Newton 2, P Smith
Con: Ces Davison 3
Referee: J O’Shannessey

1945

The South Island team featured 2 Wellington players (F Moses and Hector Mallinder) for the first time in its history, rendering it a South Island team in name only. G Moyes, chosen at lock from Waikato was unavailable as he was feeling unwell so his place was taken by Fred James of the City side and he played well scoring 2 tries.[20] Veteran Arthur Kay played for the North Island in the centre position. He was in his 13th season of senior rugby league having debuted for Ponsonby in 1933.[21] The crowd was estimated at between 15 and 20,000 which was the largest seen at the ground for many years.[22]

6 October North Island 18-8 South Island Carlaw Park 1  
3:00 Try: Brian Nordgren, Travers Hardwick, Fred James 2
Con: Jack Smith 2
Pen: Jack Smith
[23] Try: Bill Mountford, Hector Mallinder
Con: Ces Mountford
Attendance: 15-20,000
Referee: K Knapper

Players, appearances and scoring (1920–1945)

More information No, Player ...
Top point scorers
No Player Province(s) Club(s) Year(s) Games Try Con Pen DG Pts
1Joe BennettAucklandGrafton Athletic1920100000
2Pat BurrowsHawkes BayAhuriri1920100000
3Edmund DowningHawkes BayAhuriri1920110003
4Percival ExeterHawkes BayCity (HB)1920100000
5Eric GreyAucklandMaritime1920100102
6Ernie HerringAucklandAthletic (Maritime)1920, 1925, 1926330009
7Norm LoveridgeAucklandMarist1920100000
8Con McCarthyHawke's BayAhuriri1920100000
9Henry PringHawkes BayCity (HB)1920100000
10Mike PollockWellingtonNewtown1920100000
11Joe ScottWellingtonSuburbs1920100000
12G SmithWellingtonSuburbs1920100000
13Charles WoolleyAucklandGrafton Athletic1920100000
14Bert AveryAucklandAthletic (Maritime)1925, 1926220006
15Nelson BassAucklandCity1925100000
16Lou BrownAucklandCity1925, 1935, 19363400012
17Alphonsus CarrollWellingtonNewtown1925100000
18Ben DavidsonAucklandCity1925, 1926220006
19Frank DelgrossoAucklandPonsonby1925, 1928, 19293370023
20Horace DixonAucklandDevonport (N. Shore)1925110003
21Craddock DuftyAucklandAthletic (Maritime), Newton, Ellerslie1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 193050122028
22Wilson HallAucklandAthletic (Maritime)1925100000
23Jack KirwanAucklandMarist1925, 1926210003
24Alf TownsendAucklandCity1925, 1926200000
25Maurice WetherillAucklandCity1925, 1927, 1928, 1930400000
26Neville St GeorgeAucklandDevonport1925100000
27Alan ClarkeAucklandNewton, Marist, Marist-Devonport1926, 1927, 1930, 19314251018
28Hector ColeAucklandPonsonby1926120006
29Wally DesmondWellingtonnone (*)1926110003
30Lou HuttAucklandPonsonby1926, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935630009
31Ivan LittlewoodAucklandPonsonby1926110003
32Tim PeckhamAucklandPonsonby1926, 1927200000
33Arthur SingeAucklandMarist1926100000
34Frederick ChellWellingtonNorth1927100000
35Charles GregoryAucklandMarist1927, 1929201002
36Claude ListAucklandKingsland, Marist, Marist-Devonport1927, 1931, 19323510017
37George LoveWellingtonHutt1927100000
38Jim O'Brien (Dev.)AucklandDevonport (N. Shore)1927100000
39Stan PrenticeAucklandRichmond1927, 1928, 1932, 1934, 1935510003
40Stan RaynorS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly1927, 1928230009
41Wally SomersAucklandNewton1927, 1928200000
42Tom TimmsS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935820006
43Hec BrisbaneAucklandMarist, Marist-Devonport1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 19325700021
44Roy HardgraveAucklandNewton1928120006
45Jim O'Brien (Mar.)AucklandMarist1928100000
46Alf ScottAucklandDevonport1928100000
47Dick TrautvettorS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly1928, 1929, 1930300000
48Rod HamiltonNorthlandHikurangi1929110003
49Len ScottAucklandDevonport1929, 1932230009
50Ted MeyerNorthland)Waro1929, 1930210003
51Willie ShortlandAucklandHuntly1929, 1930200000
52Bob StephensonS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly1929, 1930, 1931, 1932400000
53Joe MenziesS. Auckland (Waikato)Ngaruawahia1929, 1930200000
54Tassie BerghanNorthlandWaro1929100000
55Stanley FrancisAucklandNewton1929100000
56Allan SeagarAucklandDevonport1929100000
57Stan ClarkAucklandCity1930, 1934200000
58George PerryAucklandCity1930100000
59George TittletonS. Auckland (Waikato)Ngaruawahia, Taupiri1930, 1934213009
60Edwin AbbottS. Auckland (Waikato)Ngaruawahia1931120006
61Gordon CampbellAucklandMarist-Devonport1931100000
62Norm CampbellAucklandMarist-Devonport, Marist1931, 1935200000
63Charles DunnAucklandRichmond1931100000
64Wilf HassanAucklandMarist-Devonport1931100000
65Pat MeehanAucklandMarist-Devonport19311410014
66Hugh SimpsonAucklandMarist-Devonport1931100000
67Bert CookeAucklandRichmond1932, 1934, 19353700021
68Trevor HallAucklandNewton1932100000
69Albert LaingAucklandDevonport1932103006
70Jim LairdS. Auckland (Waikato), AucklandNgaruawahia, Marist1932, 1935200000
71A.S. McIntyreAucklandPonsonby1932100000
72Charlie WhiteNorthlandWhaka-Waro1932100000
73Cliff HuntTaranakiInglewood1934100000
74Jack McLeodTaranakiWestern Suburbs1934100000
75Charlie O'CallaghanNorthlandHikurangi1934100000
76Roy PowellAucklandRichmond1934, 1935210003
77Cliff SatherleyAucklandRichmond1934, 1935212007
78R.E. SmithHawke's BayTaradale1934113009
79Wally TittletonS. Auckland (Waikato)Taupiri1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939530009
80H LargeHawke's BayTaradale1935100000
81Ted MinchamAucklandRichmond1935100000
82Bill TelfordAucklandRichmond1935100000
83John AndersonAucklandMarist1936100000
84Roy BrightAucklandNewton1936100000
85J ComanWellingtonPetone1936100000
86Joe CootesWellingtonSt George1936, 1938210003
87Claude DempseyAucklandNewton1936100000
88Edgar MorganAucklandPonsonby1936100000
89Reg HaslamAucklandMarist1936100000
90Frank PickrangAucklandManukau1936100000
91Jack SatherleyAucklandRichmond1936100000
92Ngana Teiria StaplesHawke's BayMarama1936100000
93Harold TetleyAucklandRichmond1936, 1938210003
94Walter BrimbleAucklandManukau1938110003
95Wilfred BrimbleAucklandNewton1938100000
96Jack BrodrickAucklandManukau1938110003
97Rangi ChaseAucklandManukau1938120006
98Angus GaultAucklandManukau1938110003
99Des HerringAucklandMount Albert1938130009
100Gordon MidgleyAucklandMarist1938110003
101Clarry McNeilAucklandMount Albert1938110003
102Jack SatherleyAucklandRichmond1938110003
103Jack SmithAucklandNorth Shore1938, 194520122028
104George BeadleS. Auckland (Waikato)United1939100000
105J BrooksS. Auckland (Waikato)United1939100000
106Jack HemiAucklandManukau19391033012
107Arthur KayAucklandPonsonby1939, 1945200000
108Hawea MatairaAucklandCity1939100000
109Harold MilikenAucklandPapakura1939100000
110Laurie MillsAucklandRichmond1939110003
111Roy NurseAucklandPonsonby1939, 1944220006
112Pita RirinuiAucklandManukau1939, 1945210003
113Dave SolomonWellingtonMiramar1939121008
114P StanawayAucklandPonsonby1939100000
115W WalkerAucklandMount Albert1939100000
116L AllanS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly South1944, 1945200000
117F AndrewsWellingtonAotea South1944100000
118Owen BrooksS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly South19441380025
119Dick HullAucklandPonsonby1944100000
120Fred JamesAucklandCity1944, 1945230009
121Ralph MartinWellingtonKorodale1944100000
122Ron McGregorAucklandRichmond1944100000
123G MoyesS. Auckland (Waikato)United1944100000
124Joe MurrayAucklandManukau1944, 1945230009
125Pouvi (Robert) SalaiaAucklandCity1944110003
126W RogersAucklandManukau1944100000
127John RutherfordAucklandNorth Shore1944, 1945210003
128Roy ClarkAucklandNorth Shore1945100000
129Albert HambletonS. Auckland (Waikato)Huntly1945100000
130Travers HardwickAucklandPonsonby1945110003
131Pat KellyAucklandPonsonby1945100000
132Brian NordgrenAucklandPonsonby1945110003
133Des RyanAucklandRichmond1945100000
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Notes
  • Wally Desmond moved to Wellington in 1926 and played for the representative side against Waikato (South Auckland); however there was then no club competition in Wellington.
  • In 1925 Neville St George came on as a replacement for Alf Townsend at halftime.
  • In 1929 Allan Seagar replaced Len Scott at halftime.
  • In 1931 the Marist and Devonport clubs fielded a combined team as a short-lived requirement by the Auckland Rugby League.
  • In 1944 Ralph Martin was representing Wellington. He had played several seasons for Manukau in Auckland but had moved to Wellington as part of his Army training and was a member of the Korodale club.

Record by Opponent from 1920 to 1945

More information Opponent, Played ...
Opponent Played W D L PF PA PD
England (1920)1 001546-41
South Island (1925-1945)15 1311456222+234
Total16 1312461268+193
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Representation by province (1920-1945)

Jim Laird is the only player to represent the North Island for more than one province (Waikato in 1932, and Auckland in 1935).

More information Province, Players ...
Province Players
Auckland93
Waikato15
Wellington11
Hawke's Bay8
Northland5
Taranaki2
Total134
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Representation by club (1920-1945)

More information Club Teams ...
Club Teams North Island Representatives
Ponsonby (Auckland)14
Richmond (Auckland)13
Marist (Auckland)13
North Shore (Auckland)11
City (Auckland)10
Manukau (Auckland)9
Newton (Auckland)9
Huntly (Waikato)5
Marist-Devonport (1931 combined team) (Auckland)5
Maritime (Auckland)5
Ngaruawahia (Waikato)4
Ahuriri (Hawke's Bay)3
Mount Albert (Auckland)3
United (Waikato)3
City (Hawke's Bay)2
Grafton Athletic (Auckland)2
Hikurangi (Northland)2
Huntly South (Waikato)2
Newtown (Wellington)2
Suburbs (Wellington)2
Taradale (Hawke's Bay)2
Taupiri (Waikato)2
Waro (Northland)2
Aotea (Wellington)1
Ellerslie (Auckland)1
Hutt (Wellington)1
Inglewood (Taranaki)1
Kingsland Rovers (Auckland)1
Korodale (Wellington)1
Marama (Hawke's Bay)1
North (Wellington)1
Papakura (Auckland)1
Petone (Wellington)1
St. George (Wellington)1
Western Suburbs (Wellington)1
Whaka-Waro (Northland)1
Total139
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References

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