Rotorua's Hika Reid has been named one of 17 Kiwi rugby legends who will have a conservation project dedicated to them for the Rugby World Cup.
Reid was born and bred in Rotorua, attending Ngongotaha Primary School, Kaitao Intermediate and Western Heights High School where he made the First XV as
a fourth former, playing alongside fellow rugby legend Buck Shelford. Reid went on to play for the Bay of Plenty and for the All Blacks from 1980 to 1986.
He will represent the Bay of Plenty in one of 17 native tree planting projects being run as part of community conservation project Living Legends during this year's Rugby World Cup.
The project was officially launched by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson yesterday.
The Living Legends planting projects will take place on public conservation land and New Zealanders and overseas visitors are being encouraged to participate.
Bay of Plenty is the only region that will have two planting projects - one at Rotorua's Hamurana Springs and another at the Kaituna wetland in Tauranga.
Each project will be managed with New Zealand provincial rugby unions and will be dedicated to each of the regional rugby legends chosen by the unions.
The rugby legends have been selected for their significant contribution to New Zealand rugby, as a player or administrator for their regions. A Meridian People's Choice campaign launched with Living Legends will give the public the chance to vote for their No1 rugby legend.
Regional Rugby Legends
Northland - Richie Guy North Harbour - Wayne Shelford Auckland - Bryan Williams Waikato - Duane Monkley Bay of Plenty - Hika Reid King Country - Sir Colin Meads Taranaki/Wanganui - Ian Eliason Hawke's Bay - Ian MacRae Manawatu - Sam Strahan Horowhenua/Kapiti - Christian Cullen Wellington/Wairarapa - Sir Brian Lochore Tasman - Todd Blackadder Buller/West Coast - John Sturgeon Canterbury - Tane Norton Mid Canterbury/South Canterbury - Jock Ross North Otago/Otago - Kees Meeuws Southland - Kevin Laidlaw
You can vote for your favourite legend at www.livinglegends.co.nz from now until the end of the Rugby World Cup.
