A Māori All Blacks great and respected Te Arawa sportsman has been farewelled this week with whānau, former teammates, All Blacks and community members gathering at Te Kaitao o Rangipare to honour Dinny Ratema Mohi.
Remembered as a leader on and off the field, Mohi’s legacy spans both rugby and tennis, where he left a lasting mark across generations.
Former teammate Kevin Boroevich reflected on Mohi’s toughness and character, describing him as having “played a hard life, a real life,” adding, “I bet he had dropped a shoulder as well”.
Fellow Māori All Black and All Black great Hika Reid also paid tribute, saying he spent “quite a lot of time with him” off the field and remembered Mohi as the “main pillar” of the team, with a “legendary presence”.
Mohi’s impact extended beyond rugby into tennis, where he became a prominent figure in Te Arawa Māori Tennis.
Tēnehi Māori representative Leona Kaye-Ivitu said there was no one like Mohi.
“The most beautiful tennis player you’ll ever see play on court, a lot of mana when he played.”
Kaye-Ivitu recalled a standout moment in one of his tennis matches for the 75+ division.
“After he was competition against Joe Tamati, Dinny performed the haka on the court. The loudest haka ever.”
His daughter, Huia Mohi-Kearney, spoke of the depth of his influence, saying, “He hōhonu rawa atu tōna mana, kāhore he kupu e tika ana hei whakamārama.”
Mihi-Kearney added she continues to hear new stories about her father, and acknowledged the support surrounding the whānau, saying, “It’s not that we don’t feel the support of all of those around us.”
Dinny Mohi is being remembered as a towering figure whose mana and contribution to sport and community will endure.
He Pou Tokomanawa: E mihi ana te Iwi ki a Dinny Mohi (85), Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Kua hoki atu tētahi pou tokomanawa o Ngāti Rangiwewehi ki ōna tini, ki ōna rahi i te pō, whai muri i tōna aituā i te ata hāpara o te rā o ANZAC. Ko Dinny Ratema Mohi te kaumātua e tangihia ana e te iwi o te Awahou, he uri ia nō Ngāti Rangiwewehi me Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Ahakoa te iti o te noho, he honore nui tonu ki a Rangiwewehi kia tū tonu mai ia ki Awahou nei.
Ko Dinny tērā i kawea ake i te kauae o ngā mātua tūpuna, ka mutu, ko ia e whakapakoko ana mō tōna anō mana..
He uri a Dinny nō ngā rangatira i a Hikairo, i a Kahawai, i a Mohi Tarau. I whakamana anō a Ngāti Rangiwewehi i te rangatira nei kua riro. Ko Dinny hoki te teina o te tohunga taiaha rongonui, a Mita Mohi.
“I tōna whakapapa o tōna whakapapa nō roto i a Tūwharetoa, anō tētahi e toru ōna ingoa, ko Te Waha, ko Atareta, ko Nga tōna ingoa, ka mutu, ko Renata tōna hoa tuatahi, ko te kāwa Leonard e kōrerohia ake nei, nō roto i ngā waha kōrero, i ngā whakapapa ki konei, tōna Tāne tuarua ko Mohi Tarau, ko ia ngā hononga, e hia kē nei ngā tamariki 12 pea ngā tamariki o Atareta rāua ko Mohi Tarau, ko te Dinny, ko te Ratema e kōrerohia nei ka whai atu i tērā whakapapa, tūturu ake he Ngāti Tūwharetoa,” he ai ki a Te Ururoa Flavell o Ngāti Rangiwewehi.
“Ngākaunui ana i runga i ngā mahi tiketike ko ia te waha kōrero i Te Whare Taonga o Rotorua nei, ko ia i tae mai ki ngā hui ā iwi o te marae, ā, ka tae mai ki ngā huihui nā reira e aroha atu ana ko ia tērā kua riro o aituā, tata nei, ki runga i te whenua nei o Ngāti Rangiwewehi,” hei tā Flavell anō.E Koro, haere ki ō tini, ki ō rahi i te pō. Waiho mai mātou i muri nei. Ahakoa te ngaro, ka noho tonu tōna mana.