And some lost to New Zealand
Gordon McLauchlan
January 26, aged 89 – The journalist and social commentator achieved the distinction of public name recognition in an era when journalism wasmostly an anonymous business. His book The Passionless People, a defining work of the 1970s, contained the memorable depiction of New Zealanders as ‘‘smiling zombies’’.
Andy Haden
July 29, aged 69 – The 41-test All Black was perhaps best known for diving theatrically from a lineout to earn New Zealand amatchwinning penalty in Cardiff in 1978. But he deserved to be remembered for much more: for challenging the restrictions of the amateur game and laying the foundations of the professional era; and later as a celebrity manager whose clients included the model Rachel Hunter.
Douglas MacDiarmid
August 26, aged 97 – The Taihapeborn artist quit postwar New Zealand for Europe to become a full-time painter, often having to choose between eating and painting, and becoming well off only in his middle age with an international reputation and a prolific output. He exhibited in London, Athens, Casablanca and New York. His works are held in collections all over the world, with the largest public collection being held by the University of Otago.
JoeWilliams
September 4, aged 85 – The former prime minister of the Cook Islands was also a doctor who had a huge influence on the islands’ public health. He helped pioneer a mass treatment programme for eliminating the mosquito-borne disease lymphatic filariasis, and wanted to achieve the same with eczema. Along the way he was minister of health, of education, transport, tourism and stateowned enterprises.
John R. Reid
October 14, aged 92 – One of just a handful of world-class cricketers produced by New Zealand since the country began playing tests in the 1930s, Reid dominated the domestic game for nearly two decades. He was in charge in 1956 when New Zealand clocked up their first test victory, against the West Indies in Auckland, and was in the side a year earlier when they were routed for 26 by England – still a world record for the lowest test score.