Cricket has been a lifetime love for John Hastie. And now at the age of nearly 92, he has been honoured with inclusion in the Te Awamutu Walk of Fame for his achievements as an international cricket umpire.
It’s the first new induction since 2022, and takes the total number of high-achieving Te Awamutu individuals celebrated with a specially-carved pou [post] in Selwyn Park to 35.
Waipā Mayor Susan O’Regan said Mr Hastie’s accomplishments as a cricket umpire were simply outstanding. “It’s a great honour to recognise him as one of our town’s champion sons and daughters and include him alongside our other illustrious Te Awamutu achievers,” she said.
“Our Walk of Fame celebrates people who are not only world citizens but to us, are real-life Waipā heroes and role models.”
An official unveiling ceremony is being planned for the new year.
Mr Hastie was born and raised in Te Awamutu and has been associated with the Waipā District his whole life. His son and nominator, Richard Hastie, says his passion for cricket started in the late 1950s, playing in a local competition when teams from Pirongia, Te Rahu, Korakanui, Kihikihi and other surrounding districts all took part.
He soon realised the way to achieve international status was as an umpire rather than a player, and after passing a series of exams he was promoted to the first-class list.
Mr Hastie went on to officiate in New Zealand in test matches against all of the major cricketing nations, as well as four one-day internationals, between 1974 and 1982.
His very first test was a memorable one, in Christchurch in 1974 when New Zealand scored a historic first win over Australia, by five wickets.
The Walk of Fame was officially opened by the late Kingī Tuheitia on 15 November 2009, when 18 pou were unveiled. In June 2013 another five were added, followed by two more in August 2017. The most recent additions were six pou unveiled in December 2022.
The inductees must be outstanding achievers who are both well known nationally and have achieved international recognition, and who were born and lived in or around Te Awamutu.
Previous inductees include musicians Neil and Tim Finn, Ngāti Maniapoto chief Rewi Maniapoto, six-time Olympic equestrian Andrew Nicholson and golfer Philip Tataurangi.
