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Home / Entertainment

Rock's grandad honoured

Vaimoana Tapaleao
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
12 Dec, 2008 03:00 PMQuick Read

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Dwayne Johnson "The Rock" made money out of pictures of his grandfather as a child.

Dwayne Johnson "The Rock" made money out of pictures of his grandfather as a child.

KEY POINTS:

Dwayne Johnson would often make a small fortune at school by selling pictures of his famous wrestling grandfather for 10c apiece.

Today, Johnson - better known as pro wrestler turned movie star The Rock - is making a fortune with his own pictures, but is quick to remember
the man who inspired him.

His grandfather Peter Fanene Maivia - known as High Chief Peter Maivia in wrestling circles - was one of the first Pacific and New Zealand wrestlers to hit the big time, wrestling in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s.

Maivia, who died in 1982, is to be honoured at tonight's Samoan Sports Awards, where he will be inducted into the Samoan Sports Association's hall of fame.

In a DVD sent over by his famous grandson, The Rock says he is honoured that his grandfather has been recognised in such a way and acknowledged his links to New Zealand - where he lived with his mother and father for a year in 1979.

His mother Mataniufeagaimaleata (Ata) Maivia Johnson, who affectionately calls her son "The Pebble", is here to represent the family. She says her son was disappointed he could not be at the Auckland ceremony.

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