NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Water tragedy: Record-breaking rugby legend dies in diving accident

Neil Reid
By Neil Reid
Senior reporter·NZ Herald·
29 Dec, 2021 09:53 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

East Coast rugby legend Morgan Waitoa, pictured in the front row holding ball, has tragically died after a diving incident off the Te Araroa coastline. Photo / Neil Reid

East Coast rugby legend Morgan Waitoa, pictured in the front row holding ball, has tragically died after a diving incident off the Te Araroa coastline. Photo / Neil Reid

A diving accident off the Te Araroa coastline has claimed the life of East Coast and heartland rugby hero Morgan Waitoa.

Police confirmed this morning that a body had been located in the search for a man who had earlier gone missing and failed to resurface off the East Coast coastline on Wednesday.

"While formal identification has not yet taken place, Police believe it to be the missing man," they said in a statement. "Police's thoughts are with the man's family at this time."

Tributes have started to be posted online for the hugely-respected Waitoa, including from the Waiapu Rugby Club who wrote: "RIP Cuzy Nuts Morgan Waitoa, What a Man What a Legend."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Ngāti Porou East Coast union has also posted: "It is with great sadness we acknowledge the sudden passing of rugby legend Morgan Waitoa. Morgan was a Ngati Porou East Coast Centurion and was held in great esteem by the whole Ngati Porou Rugby community."

Waitoa both played and then coached the Ngāti Porou East Coast rugby team.

He holds the record for most games played for the province at 115 appearances. He is just one of three players to have represented the team in 100 games or more.

Waitoa, 61, first represented the East Coast as a teen in 1979.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

His incredible longevity in the side saw him still playing provincial rugby in 2006, a staggering 27 seasons later.

Positions he played for during his rep career included second-five, flanker, lock, No 8 and prop.

The rugby community on the East Coast is mourning after the death of hugely popular former coach and player Morgan Waitoa in a diving incident. Photo / Supplied
The rugby community on the East Coast is mourning after the death of hugely popular former coach and player Morgan Waitoa in a diving incident. Photo / Supplied

His time with the provincial battlers saw him play during three of their most successful seasons: winning the NPC Third Division title in both 1999 and 2000, and then being part of the team which lost the 2001 NPC Second Division final to Hawke's Bay.

Waitoa was still playing club rugby until several seasons ago, as well as turning out for the East Coast Legends, a team featuring players who had previously played rep rugby for the province.

Discover more

New Zealand

Raglan near-drowning: 2-year-old's brave battle after pool incident

26 Dec 11:22 PM
New Zealand

Body recovered from Waimakariri River, likely that of missing 18 yr old

27 Dec 08:46 PM
New Zealand

Mystery jet-ski hero saves boaties tipped on Raglan Bar

28 Dec 01:40 AM
New Zealand

Record year: Auckland's rescue helicopter crews busier in 2021 than in past 50 years

28 Dec 06:29 PM

He said in an interview with Radio Ngāti Porou in 2013 that he was "still enjoying it".

He joked that like every other player he had been injured, but the key to his longevity had been "looking after" himself.

"It is about keeping your body fit," he said.

When asked if he still went out on training runs, Waitoa laughed before telling the station that he "still went out hunting".

"It is about doing active things."

Some of the match highlights of his provincial career included playing in East Coast's 1987 Ranfurly Shield challenge against an All Black-stacked Auckland side at Eden Park.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Auckland won the game.

"We had a good build up that year," he said.

"They were the world's best players [back then]. To get to mix up with them was all right."

A decade later he was a member of the East Coast team who the star-studded Auckland team beat 115-6 in a Ranfurly Shield challenge hosted at Ruatoria's Whakarua Park.

Waitoa was also part of the East Coast-Poverty Bay combined selection who played the touring Scotland team in 2000 in Gisborne. The Scots won 51-10.

Police said the death will be referred to the Coroner.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Editorial

Editorial: Not everyone is confident the energy sector is in good shape

Politics

Abuse in care: Extra $7m for redress pool after more people eligible than expected

New Zealand

Why experts predict butter prices will keep increasing


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Premium
Editorial: Not everyone is confident the energy sector is in good shape
Editorial

Editorial: Not everyone is confident the energy sector is in good shape

OPINION: Prices have risen 6.2% since last year and consumers are going hungry or cold.

17 Jul 05:00 PM
Abuse in care: Extra $7m for redress pool after more people eligible than expected
Politics

Abuse in care: Extra $7m for redress pool after more people eligible than expected

17 Jul 05:00 PM
Why experts predict butter prices will keep increasing
New Zealand

Why experts predict butter prices will keep increasing

17 Jul 05:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP