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.
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.
Shona McCullagh (MNZM) - My story, as told to Elisabeth Easther
15 Feb, 2021 03:49 PM
7 minutes to read
Shona McCullagh is the artistic director of the Auckland Arts Festival, which is scheduled to run from March 4-21 with more than 70 events taking place across 18 days. I was born in the Waikato and, when I was 4, my family moved to Northland in Wellington where we lived in a state house with a pylon in the backyard. I have very early memories of knowing we weren t allowed to climb the pylon. I also have vivid memories of the Wahine storm, and Mum being extremely nervous about both the pylon, and the tiles sliding off the roof.