Former All Black passes away after battle with motor neurone disease
Ex-All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt leading the haka and squaring off with England counterpart Richard Cockerill during the war dance in Manchester in 1997.
The New Zealand rugby community is in mourning over the loss of one of its former All Blacks, Norm Hewitt, who sadly passed away at the age of 55 in Wellington on Monday.
Hewitt’s family issued a statement which revealed that the former All Blacks, Hurricanes and Maori All Blacks hooker, who also played at provincial level for Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Wellington, died after battling motor neurone disease.
“Although rugby dominated his early life, he established a thriving human relations consultancy after retirement, and his services were much in demand both nationally and internationally,” read the statement.
‘A role model for troubled youth’
“He walked confidently in both Māori and Pākehā worlds and was a particular role model for troubled youth, citing his own background, and offering inspirational teachings that one’s present life need not be one’s future.”
Hewitt played in 23 matches for the All Blacks of which nine were in Tests.
He was responsible for one of the game’s most enduring images, when he faced off with England counterpart Richard Cockerill while doing the haka during and end-of-year Test at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1997.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson led the tributes and recognised Hewitt’s contribution to the game.
“I played against Norm as a young player, and he was uncompromising on the field but always gracious with his time off it,” he said.
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“He was a regular on the sidelines of club rugby, passionate about the provincial game and a proud All Black and Māori All Black. Our thoughts are with Norm’s family and loved ones at this time.”
New Zealand Māori Rugby Board member Arran Pene, who was a team-mate of Hewitt’s for the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks, said: “Norm was passionate both on and off the field. He loved his whānau, his rugby and the rugby community. Māori rugby mourns his loss, and our aroha is extended to the whānau. Moe mai rā e te tuakana.”
New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Rob Nichol paid tribute to Hewitt, who was a founding board member of the association.
‘Highly influential’
“Norm was highly influential in our establishment, and the opportunities and support provided for players to this day,” he said.
“Norm was a proud man, who loved his family and cared greatly for his friends. His impact within rugby, the wider community, and on the huge variety of people and organisations he helped over the years has been immense.
“We are proud of all Norm achieved, will be forever grateful for his inspiration and contribution, and will miss him. On behalf of the Players we send our deepest love and support to Arlene and the family. Rest in peace and love our friend.”