A long serving veteran of Maori rugby has received an award for his contribution to the sport, over a year after his death.
Allan 'Smiley' Haua, who died in January last year, has been posthumously recognised with life membership of the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board.
Mr Haua played more than 100 provincial games for the Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Otago Maori sides.
He was the kaumatua of the South Canterbury Rugby Union and served as chairman of Te Waipounamu Rugby Board for 23 years.
Maori Rugby Board chairman Wayne Peters says Mr Haua believed rugby was good for Maori youth and tried to attract them to the sport.
He says a lot of Maori are currently involved in the game because of their association with him.
