Face of the Day

He was a star representative rugby and tennis player, a husband, father, kaumātua and friend. Dinny Mohi was a legend.

The 85-year-old’s remarkable life was cut short on Saturday morning in a crash near Ngongotahā on his way to the Ōhinemutu dawn parade in Rotorua to honour the Anzacs.

Mohi, whose full name is Dinny Ratema Mohi Morehu, was a former Māori All Blacks captain and member of the team for more than a decade.

Starting his rugby at Old Boys in Rotorua, the talented prop represented Bay of Plenty from 1961 to 1977, playing 156 matches.

After hanging up his boots, he picked up a tennis racket and became a familiar face at the Aotearoa Māori Tennis Championships.

His contribution was formally recognised when he was made a Life Member of Māori Tennis by the Kīngitanga at Ngāruawāhia.

Outside of sport, he was a respected kaumātua of Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, husband of 65 years to Val, and father to Dean Mohi, Wendy Mohi and Huia Mohi-Kearney. He had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and was the late Mita Mohi’s brother.

NZ Herald