Katerina Nēhua (6 February 1903 – 15 June 1948) was a New Zealand endurance swimmer, who competed in a number of swimming competitions in Australia in the 1930s and held the world record for staying afloat in water. Born Katerina Waetford, she used her mother's maiden name professionally, and in her personal life, she was known as Katherine Darley.
Nēhua was born on 6 February 1903 at Whakapara. She belonged to the iwi (tribe) of Ngāpuhi and was a descendant of the chief Eru Patuone.[1][2] On 11 April 1923 she married a local English farmer, Joseph Darley, who was working as a miner. The family moved to Sydney in 1927. After Darley was made redundant from his job as a mechanic, they found themselves in difficult financial circumstances.[1]
In January 1931, Nēhua entered an endurance swimming competition (with the goal of staying afloat in water the longest) in Manly using her mother's maiden name.[1] She had previously competed in a similar contest in the Bay of Islands and had managed to stay afloat for 25 hours.[2] Nēhua and her husband said they spent their only remaining funds on the tram ride to the contest, and Nēhua had given birth to her youngest daughter only nine weeks previously.[1][3][4] Other contestants included well-known swimmers Lily Copplestone (from New Zealand) and Mercedes Gleitze, who had recently set a record of 43 hours staying afloat in water.[1]
Nēhua was the runner-up, leaving the water after 47 hours 52½ minutes afloat. She received £100 prize money, plus an additional £100 from Gleitze, who stayed in the water 22½ minutes longer and who was impressed by Nēhua's efforts.[1] Both women were taken home by ambulance.[2]
Nēhua subsequently set a world record for this kind of endurance swimming in March 1931 at the baths in Balmoral, where she stayed in the water for 72 hours and 9 minutes.[1][5] She was reported as saying on the occasion that she would make her next attempt in an enclosed swimming pool with warm water.[6] She broke her own record in May 1931 at the municipal baths in Brisbane, managing 72 hours 21 minutes.[1] In total she entered around 12 of these endurance competitions, and became a well-known local personality for her efforts.[2] Her last known contest was in March 1932, when she managed 60 hours, again at the Balmoral baths; she reportedly had to leave the water due to the intense cold.[1][7]
Nēhua was able to earn money to support her family and said that she was "proud to be able to uphold [her] Māori race in this class of sport".[2] On setting her March 1931 world record, she was invited to speak on a Sydney radio station, and said:[1][2]
Some folk think that endurance swimming is quite a simple thing to do, when really it is not, for a person requires courage and plenty of it, to stay in the water overnight. Therefore my advice to young people who might like to try endurance swimming is don't.
Nēhua was an active member of Sydney's Polynesian Club and, together with her five daughters, took part in Waitangi Day celebrations in Sydney in 1940.[1][2][8] She died of a heart attack on 15 June 1948, survived by her daughters (her husband having pre-deceased her).[1]
^ abcdefgMacDonald, Tui (1995). "Katerina Nehua". In Macdonald, Charlotte; Penfold, Merimeri; Williams, Bridget (eds.). The Book of New Zealand Women: Ko Kui Ma Te Kaupapa (4th ed.). Wellington, NZ: Bridget Williams Books Ltd. pp. 465–467. ISBN0-908-912-04-8.
^"Plucky Maori Woman". Townsville Daily Bulletin. p. 3. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Endurance Swim: Women Competitors". The New Zealand Herald. 2 February 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Endurance Swimming". The Evening Star. 23 March 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Wants Warm Water". Daily Telegraph. 24 March 1931. p. 7. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Endurance Swim". The Herald. Melbourne. 29 March 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^"Maoris Meet in Sydney". Sydney Morning Herald. 7 February 1940. p. 16.
April 08, 2024
katerina, nēhua, february, 1903, june, 1948, zealand, endurance, swimmer, competed, number, swimming, competitions, australia, 1930s, held, world, record, staying, afloat, water, born, katerina, waetford, used, mother, maiden, name, professionally, personal, l. Katerina Nehua 6 February 1903 15 June 1948 was a New Zealand endurance swimmer who competed in a number of swimming competitions in Australia in the 1930s and held the world record for staying afloat in water Born Katerina Waetford she used her mother s maiden name professionally and in her personal life she was known as Katherine Darley Katerina NehuaNehua in the 1930sBornKaterina Waetford 1903 02 06 6 February 1903Whakapara New ZealandDied15 June 1948 1948 06 15 aged 45 Sydney AustraliaOther namesKatherine DarleyOccupationEndurance swimmerSpouseJoseph Darley m 1923 died wbr Children5Biography editNehua was born on 6 February 1903 at Whakapara She belonged to the iwi tribe of Ngapuhi and was a descendant of the chief Eru Patuone 1 2 On 11 April 1923 she married a local English farmer Joseph Darley who was working as a miner The family moved to Sydney in 1927 After Darley was made redundant from his job as a mechanic they found themselves in difficult financial circumstances 1 In January 1931 Nehua entered an endurance swimming competition with the goal of staying afloat in water the longest in Manly using her mother s maiden name 1 She had previously competed in a similar contest in the Bay of Islands and had managed to stay afloat for 25 hours 2 Nehua and her husband said they spent their only remaining funds on the tram ride to the contest and Nehua had given birth to her youngest daughter only nine weeks previously 1 3 4 Other contestants included well known swimmers Lily Copplestone from New Zealand and Mercedes Gleitze who had recently set a record of 43 hours staying afloat in water 1 Nehua was the runner up leaving the water after 47 hours 52 minutes afloat She received 100 prize money plus an additional 100 from Gleitze who stayed in the water 22 minutes longer and who was impressed by Nehua s efforts 1 Both women were taken home by ambulance 2 Nehua subsequently set a world record for this kind of endurance swimming in March 1931 at the baths in Balmoral where she stayed in the water for 72 hours and 9 minutes 1 5 She was reported as saying on the occasion that she would make her next attempt in an enclosed swimming pool with warm water 6 She broke her own record in May 1931 at the municipal baths in Brisbane managing 72 hours 21 minutes 1 In total she entered around 12 of these endurance competitions and became a well known local personality for her efforts 2 Her last known contest was in March 1932 when she managed 60 hours again at the Balmoral baths she reportedly had to leave the water due to the intense cold 1 7 Nehua was able to earn money to support her family and said that she was proud to be able to uphold her Maori race in this class of sport 2 On setting her March 1931 world record she was invited to speak on a Sydney radio station and said 1 2 Some folk think that endurance swimming is quite a simple thing to do when really it is not for a person requires courage and plenty of it to stay in the water overnight Therefore my advice to young people who might like to try endurance swimming is don t Nehua was an active member of Sydney s Polynesian Club and together with her five daughters took part in Waitangi Day celebrations in Sydney in 1940 1 2 8 She died of a heart attack on 15 June 1948 survived by her daughters her husband having pre deceased her 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Goldstone Paul Katerina Nehua Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 17 December 2011 a b c d e f g MacDonald Tui 1995 Katerina Nehua In Macdonald Charlotte Penfold Merimeri Williams Bridget eds The Book of New Zealand Women Ko Kui Ma Te Kaupapa 4th ed Wellington NZ Bridget Williams Books Ltd pp 465 467 ISBN 0 908 912 04 8 Plucky Maori Woman Townsville Daily Bulletin p 3 Retrieved 23 January 2023 Endurance Swim Women Competitors The New Zealand Herald 2 February 1931 p 9 Retrieved 23 January 2023 Endurance Swimming The Evening Star 23 March 1931 p 4 Retrieved 23 January 2023 Wants Warm Water Daily Telegraph 24 March 1931 p 7 Retrieved 23 January 2023 Endurance Swim The Herald Melbourne 29 March 1932 p 1 Retrieved 23 January 2023 Maoris Meet in Sydney Sydney Morning Herald 7 February 1940 p 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Katerina Nehua amp oldid 1135349686, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
