Wiremu Whareaitu

Wiremu "Bill" Whareaitu (15 August 1912 − 3 April 1973) was a New Zealand swimmer, who represented his country at the 1934 British Empire Games in London.

Wiremu Whareaitu

Personal information
Born	15 August 1912 New Zealand
Died	3 April 1973 (aged 60) New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Katarina Riripeti Riripotaka ​ ​ (m. 1935)​
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Swimming
Achievements and titles
National finals	150 yds backstroke, 1st (1934)

Whareaitu was the national 150 yards backstroke champion in 1934,[1] and travelled to the Empire Games in London that year as part of the three-strong New Zealand swimming team. At those games he finished fourth in his heat of the 100 yards backstroke and did not progress. He reached the final of the 3 x 110 yards medley relay with teammates Noel Crump and Len Smith, finishing fifth.[2]

Of Te Arawa and Tūhourangi descent,[3] Whareaitu served with the 28th (Māori) Battalion during World War II,[4] and competed in the battalion's team at the New Zealand Division swimming championships at Maadi, Egypt in September 1943.[5] In May 1945 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.[6]

Whareaitu died in 1973 and was buried at Kauae Cemetery, Ngongotahā.[7]

References

1. "Wiremu Whareaitu". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
2. "Wiremu Whareaitu". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
3. Electoral district of Eastern Maori: general roll of persons entitled to vote for Members of Parliament of New Zealand. 1949. p. 222.
4. "Wiremu Whareaitu". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
5. "Battalion swimming team, 1943". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
6. "New Zealand, World War II appointments, promotions, transfers and resignations, 1939–1945". Ancestry.com. 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
7. "Cemetery database report" (PDF). Rotorua District Council. Retrieved 18 April 2015.