When Muhammad Ali was a huge hit in Upper Hutt stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SunLive - The loss of boxing history - The Bay s News First sunlive.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunlive.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.