Ike Robin
Encyclopedia
Ihakara Te Tuku Rapana, MBE
(8 November 1886 – 21 June 1968) was a New Zealand
sportsman
, businessman, orator and member for the Maori Anglican Church. A champion sheep shearer
and professional wrestler, commonly known as Ike Robin, he was the first national heavyweight champion
recognised by the National Wrestling Association
and successfully defended the title against some of the top stars of the Gold Dust Trio-era, most notably, Stanislaus Zbyszko
in 1926. Over 40 years after his death, he was ranked #7 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine in 2009.
As a lay reader
of the Anglican church he was closely associated with many prominent members of the clergy, such as Bishop Frederick Bennett, and other notable figures as Te Puea Herangi
and Sir Turi Carroll. He was also an elder of the Ngati Kahungunu
and especially active in charity work
and philanthropy
on behalf of the Maori people. His efforts were recognized and was awarded the Order of the British Empire
.
, New Zealand
, on 8 November 1886. He was the second of four children born to Ihakara Rapana, a member of the Ngati Raukawa
, and Riripeti Te Aue Roberts (or McRobert). His mother was of Scottish
and Ngati Kahungunu
descent. Shortly after his birth, Robin's family moved to Kohupatiki where he lived for the rest of his life.
Although he received a primary education
, Robin left school at age 15 to become a chauffeur
and mechanic
for Napier businessman George Donnelly. A year later, he joined his father as a shearer for the Chambers family at Te Mata station, then one of the biggest sheep stations in Hawke's Bay, as well as other various duties. He began shearing sheep at 20 years old and had a highest daily tally of 150 sheep in his first year. He increased this to 200 a year later and, in his third year, he achieved the title of 'gun-shearer' with a 300 tally. He increased this to 343. Robin eventually left Te Mata to find work for other shearing contractors and travelled as far as Wanganui and Turakina for employment. While at Mangaohane station in Taihape, he reached his highest personal tally, and setting a national record, of 358 sheep in 8 hours 20 minutes. Robin also regularly competed in the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society shows. In his best year in the competition, he won seven firsts, three seconds and one third in different shearing events.
Robin soon became a shearing contractor and his gangs were highly sought after by stations throughout Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington. He eventually became the biggest contractor in Hawke's Bay and, at the peak of his success, Robin employed over 100 workers for both sheering and general farm work. He was able to offer work and accommodation to young homeless Maori, and worked with social welfare agencies in Napier and Hastings. The freezing works at Whakatu and Tomoana caused Robin's shearing contracts to decline as many of his men left his gang and chose to find work independently rather than as a contract worker.
His personal contributions to the church are credited for the successful careers of many church hui
. Robin regularly provided donations of meat, vegetables, transportation and other services to the Maori Anglican Church. He also accompanied his personal friend, Bishop Frederick Bennett, throughout New Zealand as a supporter of his ministry. As a foundation member of the Heretaunga Maori Choir, Robin also accompanied the group throughout the North Island
where they regularly performed at the choral competitions accompanying major hui.
He attempted to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
during the First World War but, in spite of his physical prowess, was rejected by the New Zealand Army
due to flat feet
. This was one of the biggest disappointments in his life. He had two children with his first wife, Mata Kato, prior to her death in 1917; both children died in infancy. A year later, Robin married Mei Pere at Kohupatiki on 27 May 1918. Pere owned her own shearing gangs which working on the eastern coastal stations around Haumoana
, Clifton
and inland towards Taihape
. They had five sons and one daughter together. Robin also had a son from an earlier relationship with Mare Hape, who was raised in Dannevirke
, and had two adopted sons as well.
, caber toss
, high jump
, tug of war
and two styles of wrestling. He won many of the events and collected £26 in prize money. He especially began to excel in wrestling and, after winning the North Island catch-as-catch-can wrestling championship at the Taihape Caledonian games on 24 January 1924, he decided to turn professional later that year.
champion and was from then on regarded as the best wrestler in all of New Zealand. Also during that year, Robin wrestled World Light Heavyweight Champion Walter Miller
in the earliest-known outdoor wrestling match in New Zealand. The event, held by the Hawkes Bay Wrestling Association, attracted a crowd of 12,000 among whom included then Governor-General Sir Charles Furgusson. At the end of the season, Robin suffered a serious shoulder injury in a title defence against M. A. Sunni. The match lasted for two hours before scoring the pinfall at around midnight. Although he retained the title, and won the £1400 purse, doctors prohibited him from wrestling for at least one month.
On 16 March 1925, he defeated Sunni in two straight falls in Auckland
to win the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
, and a £750 purse, becoming the first champion officially recognised by the National Wrestling Alliance
. Four months later, accompanied by former Scottish heavyweight champion and manager Alec Bain, Robin travelled to Australia with Sunni and Japanese wrestler Koraeda where he defended the national heavyweight title in a rematch against the Walter Miller. A side wager was made for £500. In October 1925, he defeated Walter on points in a six-round contest in Hastings for the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship
. That year, he was also on the first wrestling event ever held in Brisbane Stadium where Robin defeated Peter Limutkin. He would successfully defend the national title against local and foreign wrestlers for over a year until his retirement in 1926.
Prior to his retirement, he defeated Clarence Weber in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match for the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship in Melbourne, Australia. Upon returning to Napier, he was apparently awarded a gold medal
in recognition of his victory. Robin became so popular in the country that a patented wire-strainer for fencing, the "Ike Grip", was named after him.
at Auckland Town Hall
on three occasions; over 1,000 people where turned away from the sold-out Town Hall during their bout on 22 June 1926. Although Zbyszko was billed as the World Heavyweight Champion, he had lost the title to Joe Stecher
the previous year. According to one account by the New Zealand Railways Magazine, one of their matches lasted for several hours before ending in a time limit draw which had "gone on for many weary hours and when midnight Saturday chimed and Sunday commenced the match had to cease". Zbyszko later praised Robin's wrestling abilities claiming that few wrestlers could equal Robin for strength and that "with proper training for two months or so, he would be a world-beater".
. He briefly came out of retirement to compete for the Wellington Wrestling Association in 1930, refereeing some preliminary amateur bouts at the Wellington Town Hall
, and visiting American wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis
expressed interest in wrestling Robin for the NWA Australasian title. By 1932, Robin was in full training in preparation for a comeback and, after a six year absence, had his first return bout against Finnish wrestler Peter Limutkin at the Wellington Town Hall
on 18 July 1932. Although he was awarded the victory, Robin's in-ring performance was considered disappointing. The Evening Post
noted "Against Peter Limutkin he did not show anything which would give hope of his performing creditably against a visiting wrestler approaching his own weight. Robin certainly won, but that was all, and the match can best be written down as just another effort on the part of the [Dominion] Wrestling Union to give a local man a chance to prove his worth".
As the season went on, his later bouts were more favourably reviewed. His 21 July match against younger Maori wrestler Toa Kaha, for example, went to the full four rounds amazing the audience "at the endurance shown by both Native giants". On 16 September 1932, Robin's match against Abe Kaplin went to a time limit draw and was called by The Evening Post as "one of the best wrestling matches seen at Hastings".
The following year he wrestled American wrestler Harry Mamos in Napier on 28 June 1933, which ended in a draw. Throughout the 1933 season, he challenged George Walker for the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship and was considered a top contender for the title, along with Harry Mamos and Rumberg, by the end of the year. He and Billy Meeske were reportedly in line to challenge George Walker for the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship
during the summer of 1935.
The 49-year-old Robin, however, was now nearing middle age
and in the midst of a changing business decided to retire. His nephew, Keita Meretana
, also became a noted amateur and professional wrestler during the 1950s. Long after his retirement, wrestlers visiting from overseas would often stop by Robin's home to pay their respects. Over 40 years after his death, he was ranked #7 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine in 2009.
, and corresponded with a number of government figures, including governors general and prime ministers, as well as president of New Zealand Māori Council Sir Turi Carroll, a close and lifelong friend. He was familiar with Maori leaders, such as Te Puea Herangi
, and met with royalty as a representative of the Maori people of Hawke's Bay. His lifelong activities in charity work and philanthropy were partly influenced by Sir Apirana Ngata
and the Young Maori Party
, and his hometown of Kohupatiki was described as "a home away from home for the boys of Te Aute College and the girls of Hukarere". His granddaughter, Maisie, was chosen as the model for the statue of Pania
which now adorns Napier's Marine Parade. Robin later received the MBE
for his continuous efforts for working on behalf of the Maori people.
As an elder of the Ngati Kahungunu, he frequently appeared as an orator at tribal ceremonial events throughout his life, even when afflicted by severe rheumatism
and arthritis
in his old age. His condition grew so severe that he eventually became bed-ridden and, on one occasion, had to be carried out of his home by one of his grandsons when his bedroom caught fire. Robin died at Kohupatiki on 21 June 1968, survived by his wife, three (or six) sons and a daughter. Following his death, the people of Kohupatiki honoured Robin with the song, Tuku whakarererere, in his name.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(8 November 1886 – 21 June 1968) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
sportsman
Sportsman
Sportsman may refer to:* Sportsperson: someone who enjoys sport* Sportsmanship, conforming to all the rules of game and acting in a fair manner towards the opponent* Gun rights supporter * Sportsman's Association UK gun rights group...
, businessman, orator and member for the Maori Anglican Church. A champion sheep shearer
Sheep shearer
A sheep shearer is a worker who uses -blade or machine shears to remove wool from domestic sheep during crutching or shearing.-History:...
and professional wrestler, commonly known as Ike Robin, he was the first national heavyweight champion
NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
The NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
recognised by the National Wrestling Association
National Wrestling Association
The National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
and successfully defended the title against some of the top stars of the Gold Dust Trio-era, most notably, Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions...
in 1926. Over 40 years after his death, he was ranked #7 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine in 2009.
As a lay reader
Lay Reader
A lay reader is a layperson authorized by a bishop of the Anglican Church to read some parts of a service of worship. They are members of the congregation called to preach or lead services, but not called to full-time ministry.Anglican lay readers are licensed by the bishop to a particular parish...
of the Anglican church he was closely associated with many prominent members of the clergy, such as Bishop Frederick Bennett, and other notable figures as Te Puea Herangi
Te Puea Herangi
Te Puea Herangi, CBE was a respected Māori leader from New Zealand's Waikato region known by the name Princess Te Puea.-Early life:...
and Sir Turi Carroll. He was also an elder of the Ngati Kahungunu
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
and especially active in charity work
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
on behalf of the Maori people. His efforts were recognized and was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Early life
Ihakara Te Tuku Rapana was born in WairoaWairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, on 8 November 1886. He was the second of four children born to Ihakara Rapana, a member of the Ngati Raukawa
Ngati Raukawa
Ngāti Raukawa is a Māori iwi with traditional bases in the Waikato, Taupo and Manawatū/Horowhenua regions of New Zealand. In 2006, 29,418 Māori registered their affiliation with Ngāti Raukawa.- Early History :...
, and Riripeti Te Aue Roberts (or McRobert). His mother was of Scottish
Scottish New Zealander
Scottish New Zealanders are New Zealanders who are of Scottish ancestry.Scottish migration to New Zealand dates back to the earliest period of European colonisation, with a large proportion of Pākehā New Zealanders being of Scottish descent. However, identification as "British" or "European" New...
and Ngati Kahungunu
Ngati Kahungunu
Ngāti Kahungunu is a Māori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke’s Bay and Tararua and Wairārapa regions....
descent. Shortly after his birth, Robin's family moved to Kohupatiki where he lived for the rest of his life.
Although he received a primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, Robin left school at age 15 to become a chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
and mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
for Napier businessman George Donnelly. A year later, he joined his father as a shearer for the Chambers family at Te Mata station, then one of the biggest sheep stations in Hawke's Bay, as well as other various duties. He began shearing sheep at 20 years old and had a highest daily tally of 150 sheep in his first year. He increased this to 200 a year later and, in his third year, he achieved the title of 'gun-shearer' with a 300 tally. He increased this to 343. Robin eventually left Te Mata to find work for other shearing contractors and travelled as far as Wanganui and Turakina for employment. While at Mangaohane station in Taihape, he reached his highest personal tally, and setting a national record, of 358 sheep in 8 hours 20 minutes. Robin also regularly competed in the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society shows. In his best year in the competition, he won seven firsts, three seconds and one third in different shearing events.
Robin soon became a shearing contractor and his gangs were highly sought after by stations throughout Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington. He eventually became the biggest contractor in Hawke's Bay and, at the peak of his success, Robin employed over 100 workers for both sheering and general farm work. He was able to offer work and accommodation to young homeless Maori, and worked with social welfare agencies in Napier and Hastings. The freezing works at Whakatu and Tomoana caused Robin's shearing contracts to decline as many of his men left his gang and chose to find work independently rather than as a contract worker.
Entry into the Anglican church
Deeply religious, Robin became a lay reader in the Anglican church in 1911 and served in this position for nearly 60 years. He was a friend and close adviser to the first two Maori bishops appointed to the Anglican Church, and served under other prominent members of the Maori clergy. He was often called to deputise for ministers who were unexpectedly needed to perform other services. If a minister arrived late, the service was restarted upon his arrival. Robin would also host hourly evening services at his home. According to one popular story, Robin was once "so absorbed in his preaching that he failed to notice that the congregation comprised only his dog, Hui Toopu."His personal contributions to the church are credited for the successful careers of many church hui
Hui (Maori assembly)
A hui is a New Zealand term for a social gathering or assembly.Originally a Māori language word, it was used by Europeans as early as 1846 when referring to Māori gatherings - but is now increasingly used in New Zealand English to describe events that are not exclusively Māori....
. Robin regularly provided donations of meat, vegetables, transportation and other services to the Maori Anglican Church. He also accompanied his personal friend, Bishop Frederick Bennett, throughout New Zealand as a supporter of his ministry. As a foundation member of the Heretaunga Maori Choir, Robin also accompanied the group throughout the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
where they regularly performed at the choral competitions accompanying major hui.
He attempted to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...
during the First World War but, in spite of his physical prowess, was rejected by the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
due to flat feet
Flat feet
Flat feet is a formal reference to a medical condition in which the arch of the foot collapses, with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground...
. This was one of the biggest disappointments in his life. He had two children with his first wife, Mata Kato, prior to her death in 1917; both children died in infancy. A year later, Robin married Mei Pere at Kohupatiki on 27 May 1918. Pere owned her own shearing gangs which working on the eastern coastal stations around Haumoana
Haumoana
-The Beach:Haumoana is located twelve kilometres south of Napier and ten kilometres east of Hastings. The village incorporates a school, a Presbyterian Church, a general store, a takeaway shop, a hall and a fire station. The village was developed as a holiday settlement with baches, and the...
, Clifton
Clifton, Hawke's Bay
Clifton is a popular coastal beach reserve motor camp in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It is located eighteen kilometres southeast of the city centre of Napier and eight kilometres west of the tip of Cape Kidnappers.-Infrastructure:...
and inland towards Taihape
Taihape
Taihape is the Northern gateway town of the Rangitikei District, located near the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. It services a large rural community and lies on State Highway 1, which runs through the centre of the North Island.- Economy :...
. They had five sons and one daughter together. Robin also had a son from an earlier relationship with Mare Hape, who was raised in Dannevirke
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
, and had two adopted sons as well.
Athletic and amateur career
A noted sportsman as a young man, Robin was "a keen competitor at Caledonian sports days". At one competition in Napier he participated in the shot-put, hammer throwHammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
, caber toss
Caber toss
The caber toss is a traditional Irish athletic event practised at the Irish Highland Games involving the tossing of a large wooden pole called a caber. It is said to have developed from the need to toss logs across narrow chasms to cross them. In Irishtown the caber is usually made from a Larch tree...
, high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
, tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
and two styles of wrestling. He won many of the events and collected £26 in prize money. He especially began to excel in wrestling and, after winning the North Island catch-as-catch-can wrestling championship at the Taihape Caledonian games on 24 January 1924, he decided to turn professional later that year.
New Zealand and Australasia Champion
Robin, with his powerful strength and "wire and whipcord" build, was easily able to dominate his opponents. His earliest professional match was against the Indian wrestler M. A. Sunni at the Municipal Theatre in Napier on 3 May 1924, whom he defeated in two falls within 15 minutes. In August, he defeated the South IslandSouth Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
champion and was from then on regarded as the best wrestler in all of New Zealand. Also during that year, Robin wrestled World Light Heavyweight Champion Walter Miller
Walter Miller
Walter Miller may refer to:* Walter B. Miller , American anthropologist* Walter Dale Miller , American politician* Walter Miller , American middleweight wrestling champion* Walter M. Miller, Jr...
in the earliest-known outdoor wrestling match in New Zealand. The event, held by the Hawkes Bay Wrestling Association, attracted a crowd of 12,000 among whom included then Governor-General Sir Charles Furgusson. At the end of the season, Robin suffered a serious shoulder injury in a title defence against M. A. Sunni. The match lasted for two hours before scoring the pinfall at around midnight. Although he retained the title, and won the £1400 purse, doctors prohibited him from wrestling for at least one month.
On 16 March 1925, he defeated Sunni in two straight falls in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to win the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
The NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
, and a £750 purse, becoming the first champion officially recognised by the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
. Four months later, accompanied by former Scottish heavyweight champion and manager Alec Bain, Robin travelled to Australia with Sunni and Japanese wrestler Koraeda where he defended the national heavyweight title in a rematch against the Walter Miller. A side wager was made for £500. In October 1925, he defeated Walter on points in a six-round contest in Hastings for the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship
NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship
The New Zealand version of the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling regional heavyweight championship recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance and competed for by wrestlers in the Australasian region. It was largely defended in New Zealand's Dominion Wrestling...
. That year, he was also on the first wrestling event ever held in Brisbane Stadium where Robin defeated Peter Limutkin. He would successfully defend the national title against local and foreign wrestlers for over a year until his retirement in 1926.
Prior to his retirement, he defeated Clarence Weber in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match for the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship in Melbourne, Australia. Upon returning to Napier, he was apparently awarded a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in recognition of his victory. Robin became so popular in the country that a patented wire-strainer for fencing, the "Ike Grip", was named after him.
Bout with Stanislaus Zbyszko
In the final months of his career, Robin wrestled Polish-American wrestler Stanislaus ZbyszkoStanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions...
at Auckland Town Hall
Auckland Town Hall
The Auckland Town Hall is a historic building on Queen Street in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, known both for its original and ongoing use for administrative functions , as well as for its famed Great Hall and its separate Concert Chamber...
on three occasions; over 1,000 people where turned away from the sold-out Town Hall during their bout on 22 June 1926. Although Zbyszko was billed as the World Heavyweight Champion, he had lost the title to Joe Stecher
Joe Stecher
Joe Stecher , sometimes spelled Joe Stetcher, was a professional wrestler and three-time World Heavyweight Champion. Stecher is the first wrestler to regain the original version of the World Heavyweight Championship....
the previous year. According to one account by the New Zealand Railways Magazine, one of their matches lasted for several hours before ending in a time limit draw which had "gone on for many weary hours and when midnight Saturday chimed and Sunday commenced the match had to cease". Zbyszko later praised Robin's wrestling abilities claiming that few wrestlers could equal Robin for strength and that "with proper training for two months or so, he would be a world-beater".
Brief comeback and retirement
Robin chose to compete in his home country, however, because there were so few local professionals active at the time it was difficult to earn a living and he decided to retire. The national title would remain vacant for three years until Tom Alley won the title shortly before of the founding of the Dominion Wrestling UnionDominion Wrestling Union
The Dominion Wrestling Union was the first professional wrestling promotion in New Zealand. It was one of two organisations first active in the Australasian region, along with Australia's Stadium Limited, and served as the country's single major promotion for 30 years until being succeeded by All...
. He briefly came out of retirement to compete for the Wellington Wrestling Association in 1930, refereeing some preliminary amateur bouts at the Wellington Town Hall
Wellington Town Hall
The Wellington Town Hall is a concert hall and part of the municipal complex in Wellington, New Zealand. The foundation stone for the building was laid in 1901 and construction began the following year. It was officially opened on 7 December 1904....
, and visiting American wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Ed Lewis (wrestler)
Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
expressed interest in wrestling Robin for the NWA Australasian title. By 1932, Robin was in full training in preparation for a comeback and, after a six year absence, had his first return bout against Finnish wrestler Peter Limutkin at the Wellington Town Hall
Wellington Town Hall
The Wellington Town Hall is a concert hall and part of the municipal complex in Wellington, New Zealand. The foundation stone for the building was laid in 1901 and construction began the following year. It was officially opened on 7 December 1904....
on 18 July 1932. Although he was awarded the victory, Robin's in-ring performance was considered disappointing. The Evening Post
The Evening Post (New Zealand)
The Evening Post was a daily newspaper based in Wellington, New Zealand. It was founded in 1865 by Henry Blundell , an Irish immigrant to New Zealand. It continued under Blundell family control until the 1960s, when it was purchased by Independent Newspapers Ltd.In 2002 it merged with The...
noted "Against Peter Limutkin he did not show anything which would give hope of his performing creditably against a visiting wrestler approaching his own weight. Robin certainly won, but that was all, and the match can best be written down as just another effort on the part of the [Dominion] Wrestling Union to give a local man a chance to prove his worth".
As the season went on, his later bouts were more favourably reviewed. His 21 July match against younger Maori wrestler Toa Kaha, for example, went to the full four rounds amazing the audience "at the endurance shown by both Native giants". On 16 September 1932, Robin's match against Abe Kaplin went to a time limit draw and was called by The Evening Post as "one of the best wrestling matches seen at Hastings".
The following year he wrestled American wrestler Harry Mamos in Napier on 28 June 1933, which ended in a draw. Throughout the 1933 season, he challenged George Walker for the NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship and was considered a top contender for the title, along with Harry Mamos and Rumberg, by the end of the year. He and Billy Meeske were reportedly in line to challenge George Walker for the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship
NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship (New Zealand version)
The New Zealand version of the NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship defended in the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated Dominion Wrestling Union from 1929 to 1953 and in All Star Pro Wrestling from 1968 to 1990...
during the summer of 1935.
The 49-year-old Robin, however, was now nearing middle age
Middle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
and in the midst of a changing business decided to retire. His nephew, Keita Meretana
Keita Meretana
Keith Mildon of Ngāti Kahungunu, is a former professional wrestler and heavyweight wrestling champion of New Zealand from Wairoa, New Zealand.-Career:Keith Mildon, third son of the Mr L. W. Mildon and Mrs C...
, also became a noted amateur and professional wrestler during the 1950s. Long after his retirement, wrestlers visiting from overseas would often stop by Robin's home to pay their respects. Over 40 years after his death, he was ranked #7 in a top ten list of New Zealand's greatest wrestlers by Fight Times Magazine in 2009.
Later years
Robin returned to Anglican service following his retirement. He also became active in politics, being involved with the Labour PartyNew Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, and corresponded with a number of government figures, including governors general and prime ministers, as well as president of New Zealand Māori Council Sir Turi Carroll, a close and lifelong friend. He was familiar with Maori leaders, such as Te Puea Herangi
Te Puea Herangi
Te Puea Herangi, CBE was a respected Māori leader from New Zealand's Waikato region known by the name Princess Te Puea.-Early life:...
, and met with royalty as a representative of the Maori people of Hawke's Bay. His lifelong activities in charity work and philanthropy were partly influenced by Sir Apirana Ngata
Apirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
and the Young Maori Party
Young Maori Party
The Young Māori Party was a New Zealand organisation dedicated to improving the position of Māori. It grew out of the Te Aute Students Association, established by former students of Te Aute College in 1897. It was established as the Young Māori Party in 1909....
, and his hometown of Kohupatiki was described as "a home away from home for the boys of Te Aute College and the girls of Hukarere". His granddaughter, Maisie, was chosen as the model for the statue of Pania
Pania
thumb|Statue of PaniaPania, often styled "Pania of the Reef", is a figure of Māori mythology, and a symbol of the New Zealand city of Napier. A statue of Pania on Napier's Marine Parade is a major local tourist attraction.-The legend of Pania of the Reef:...
which now adorns Napier's Marine Parade. Robin later received the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his continuous efforts for working on behalf of the Maori people.
As an elder of the Ngati Kahungunu, he frequently appeared as an orator at tribal ceremonial events throughout his life, even when afflicted by severe rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
and arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
in his old age. His condition grew so severe that he eventually became bed-ridden and, on one occasion, had to be carried out of his home by one of his grandsons when his bedroom caught fire. Robin died at Kohupatiki on 21 June 1968, survived by his wife, three (or six) sons and a daughter. Following his death, the people of Kohupatiki honoured Robin with the song, Tuku whakarererere, in his name.
In wrestling
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Alec Bain
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Big Maori"
- "The Maori Giant"
Championships and accomplishments
- National Wrestling AssociationNational Wrestling AssociationThe National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction professional wrestling. This NWA is not the same organization as the National Wrestling Alliance, which was formed in 1948....
- NWA Australasian Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Australasian Heavyweight ChampionshipThe New Zealand version of the NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling regional heavyweight championship recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance and competed for by wrestlers in the Australasian region. It was largely defended in New Zealand's Dominion Wrestling...
(2 times) - NWA New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the primary singles title in the NWA-affiliated wrestling promotion NWA New Zealand. It is the first heavyweight championship in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the world. It was first won by Gisborne Katene who defeated Frank Findlay in 1919...
(1 time, first)
- NWA Australasian Heavyweight Championship
Further reading
- "Obituary." Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune. 21 June 1968.
- "Obituary." Sports Post (Wellington). 29 June 1968.
- Robin, A. Biography on Ike Robin. MS, 1995.