Birth Name: Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu
Place of Birth: Lower Hutt, North Island, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 7 September, 1983
Ethnicity: Māori, one eighth Welsh, some French, English, Scottish, Irish
Piri Weepu is a New Zealand rugby union player. He was a key figure of the All Blacks team, which won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Piri has led the Haka, the traditional Māori war dance performed by the All Blacks before any match, for a record 51 times.
Piri is the son of Candice Turner and Ihaia (Oxx/Bill) Weepu II. He is of Māori, one eighth Welsh, and some French, English, Scottish, and Irish, descent.
Piri is said to have Niuean ancestry. Niue is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is not clear if this is accurate.
Piri’s paternal grandfather is named Ihaia “Eli” Weepu. Ihaia was born in Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast, New Zealand.
Piri’s paternal grandmother is Henrietta Tewhe “Heni” Robinson (the daughter of Teoti “George” Robinson-Clough and Mākareta Beaton “Goldie” Morrell). Henrietta was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Teoti was the son of George “Teoti” Robinson-Clough, who was of half English (from Blackburn) and half Māori ancestry, and of Hēni I “Jane” Morrell. Mākareta was the daughter of John/Jean Morrell, a French whaler from Bordeaux, who was also known as Johnny Wiwy or Johnny The Frenchman among the Māoris, and of Irihapeti Tamahenua, who was Māori. Teoti and Mākareta were related.
Piri’s maternal grandfather was John Turner (the son of John Turner and Rihera Alice Pomare). Piri’s grandfather John was born on South Island, New Zealand. Piri’s great-grandfather John was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. Rihera was the daughter of Sir Māui Wiremu Pita Naera Pōmare, a doctor and politician, who served as Minister of Health in the New Zealand government, among other duties; and of Elizabeth Harriet Irihapeti Flutely, who was of half Māori and half European, French and English, descent. Some of her ancestors were convicts on Norfork Island, Australia.
Piri’s maternal grandmother was the daughter of James Morehu Hudson and Pareaute Tutuu Henare. James was born in Opotiki, Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand. James’s father, Mane James Hudson, was of half British Isles, with roots in Yorkshire, England, and Scotland, and half Māori, descent. James’s mother, Miria Minarapa Waata, was Māori. Piri’s great-grandmother Pareaute was born in Waima, Auckland, New Zealand, and was the daughter of Rewi Henare Erueram, who was Māori, and of Ihipera/Isabella Welsh, who was of half Irish and half Māori descent.
Sources: Genealogy of Piri Weepu – https://www.geni.com
Information about Piri’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Sir Māui Wiremu Pita Naera Pōmare – https://teara.govt.nz