Joseph Astbury (Joe) Warbrick

In "100 Maori Sports Heroes" Joe Warbrick is remembered for his prowess on the rugby field. "Joe was born in Rotorua to an English father, Arthur Warbrick, and his wife Ngakarauna Paerau, a Maori Princess of Ngati Rangitihi. Joe was one of five children, and also had seven half-brothers and sisters from his father's second marriage to Harina. He was sent away to the Native School in Parnell where he studied (and played rugby) until 1878, after this he spent some time in Wellington and played for them in 1879, by 1882 he was back in Auckland playing for North Shore. Later he played for the New Zealand tour of Australia in 1884... he did not stay in one place for long however and played for many other teams throughout New Zealand. Sadly Joe Warbrick died when the Waimangu Geyser erupted on 30 August 1903, his brothers Arthur and Frederick also played on the 1888 Natives tour also died young, but their legacy remains to this day." Source: http://rotoruadistrictlibrary.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-100-...

In 1903 four tourists died when they got too close to Waimangu Geyser in Rotorua, despite repeated warnings from their guide to move away. Joseph Warbrick, Catherine and Ruby Nicholls and David McNaughton died of burns, shock and suffocation when the geyser blew. For 111 years there was no trace to be found of their coroners’ inquest reports until they were discovered in a Tourist and Publicity department file. Source: https://www.genealogy.org.nz/data/media/documents/NZ%20Genealogist/...

Joseph Astbury "Joe" Warbrick (1 January 1862 – 30 August 1903) was a Māori rugby union player who represented New Zealand on their 1884 tour to Australia, and later captained the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that embarked on a 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia and the British Isles. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Warbrick

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 5 2017, 4:12:33 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 5 2017, 4:12:33 UTC