Ali, regarded by many as the greatest boxer and sportsperson of all time, visited Upper Hutt on February 23, 1979 at the invitation of local boxing coach Alan Scaife. At the time, Ali was also famous because of his opposition to the Vietnam War and support for civil rights.
SUPPLIED/Waikato Times
Muhammad Ali holds Jason Tarawhiti in front of the Upper Hutt City Library in 1979. Tarawhiti is now living in Hamilton and cherishes the original fading picture. Tarawhiti is a bit vague about the details of how the photo was taken. His mother, Hope, who now lives in Western Australia, told him that she was trying to get a picture of Ali, who attracted a huge crowd everywhere he went, when he approached her.