Iceman melts a little with knighthood
A beacon for the Pasifika community on and off the rugby field has dedicated his knighthood to the aiga (extended family) who raised him.
Sir Michael Niko Jones was yesterday appointed a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for his services to the Pasifika community and youth.
The All Black, who holds a chiefly matai title in Samoa, wore a traditional ula fala — a crimson pandanus necklace — at Government House in Wellington.
The 52-year-old advocate was visibly humbled as he knelt to receive the honour from Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.
Smiling, Jones acknowledged the audience with a subtle nod as he returned to his seat during sustained applause.
The 1987 World Cup winner — known as the “Iceman” in his playing days — admitted he was in “a bit of a daze” after the ceremony.
“I feel very humbled, hugely honoured,” he said.
“It was just wonderful to be there among some wonderful fellow New Zealanders, and I felt very privileged.”
Jones said he was thinking of his late mother, Maina Wearne-Jones, as the sword tapped him on his shoulders.
“I lost my father very young, I was only 4 years old, so she was the one who sort of raised us with my uncles and aunties and cousins.
“It’s a tribute to having a great late mother who’s no longer here, but also a great whanau with my wife and kids. They’re the ones who have supported me and made the sacrifice so I could pursue the things I do.”
Jones said he was the quintessential case of the village raising the child. He went on to found and chair The Village, a community and youth trust aiming to help keep Maori and Pasifika youth out of gangs.
The trust has grown to include a sports academy and a mentoring programme.
He also helped establish the Pacific Peoples Advancement Trust, which started and sponsors the Pacific Advance Senior School.
He said the Pasifika community was making progress: “There’s a lot more work to do, but I think we’re trying to grow more leaders to advocate champions.”
He was heartened by the closer bonds forged between tagata Pasifika and tangata whenua, and continued to lean on his mother’s dream for him to improve the standing of Pacific communities in society.
One of the finest All Black loose forwards, Jones would not play on Sundays because of religious beliefs. He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003.