Keita Meretana

Keith Mildon (wrestling name: Keita Meretana) of Ngāti Kahungunu, is a former professional wrestler and heavyweight wrestling champion of New Zealand from Wairoa, New Zealand.

Career

Keith Mildon, third son of the Mr L. W. Mildon and Mrs C. Mildon of Wairoa and nephew of Ike Robin, the first professional wrestling champion of New Zealand, began wrestling in 1951, under the tuition of Anton Koolmann in Wellington, and for eight years wrestled mainly in the East Coast, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Wellington areas.

1952, when he was awarded the trophy for the most scientific wrestler in Gisborne.

In May, 1959, at the age 26 with weights 16 stone 6 lbs, he turned professional and made his debut with two bouts agaist the Australian, Ricky Wallace, wrestling a draw with him at Hawera on May 30 and defeated him on Queen's Birthday weekend in Auckland. After that he met the team which visited New Zealand, leaded by Jack Bence (United States), André Drapp (France), Braka Cortez (Brazil) and several others and joined with Jack Bence.

In the offseason from wrestling, he was a truck-driver in Wellington and participated in Māori Church Welfare work and was working with Nagti Poneke in this field. When the 1960 wrestling season opened in New Zealand, he challenged all the overseas visiting wrestlers: Lou Newman (United States), Herby Freeman (New York), Seymour Koenig (New York) and Ken Kenneth, a New Zealander who had returned from six years of campaigning in the United States.

October 3, 1959 he defeats Lofty Binnie and wins heavyweight wrestling title of New Zealand. Kenneth claimed the New Zealand title, but rightly it belonged to Keith Meretana, since Kenneth had been absent from New Zealand for six years, and under New Zealand rules, the title is forfeited after two years' absence from the country. Meretana has not yet been beaten by any New Zealand wrestler by a straight fall, and his claim to the title therefore stands. He is often billed as the New Zealand Māori title-holder, but as he points out, he is the New Zealand title-holder, irrespective of race.

During 1960, he spent three months campaigning in Australia, and as a preliminary to his contests, he performed a haka, which was very popular with audiences. When he appeared on Australian TV, he wore his full Māori regalia.

1961 Keith Meretana of Wairoa, 6 feet, 16 stone 10 pounds, 30 years old, left his native land for Honolulu under contract to a well-known wrestling promoter, Al Karasick, and went from there for two years of contracts in the United States. He also compited in Great Britain, Australia and India.Since he turned professional to June 1961, Keith Meretana has won 25 matches, lost 25 and drew 5. Keita was a top-line wrestler on British television programmes.

Wedding

July 1, 1967 over 450 guests attended the wedding at the Gospel Hall, Levin, where he married Miss Tangiwai Tihema, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs R. Tihema of Levin. Miss Tihema of Ngati Raukawa, granddaughter of the late David Raunini Tatana, M.B.E. of Levin, a descendant of Te Rauparaha, has worked for ten years as an Agrade cook at the Levin Hospital and Training School.

Both Māori and European delicacies were served at the reception, and among the vocal items was one given by Hannah Tatana, cousin of the bride.

Guests included Mr and Mrs Ike Robin, O.B.E. of Hastings (grand uncle and aunt of the groom) and Mr Watarangi Pohe of Putiki (grand uncle of the bride).

Mr and Mrs Mildon made their home in Wellington

References

* [http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao35TeA/c29.html Keith Meretana]
* [http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao60TeA/c16.html Wedding at Levin]

External links

* [http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/image/Mao40TeA/Mao40TeA055.html Picture in the magazine Te Ao Hou - The New World]
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nz/nz-h.html New Zealand Heavyweight Title]