Alexander was born on 14 July 1886 (birth certificate number 1886/066595) we can only assume in Aratapu in the northern Kaipara region.

The New Zealand Herald mentions of one of William’s sons having an accident – from the dates we have assumed that it was Alexander – from the New Zealand Herald 17 December 1895 reads;

“A young nine-year-old son of Mr. Wm. Stanaway, at Northern Wairoa, fell and broke his arm, on Tuesday, while playing with some lads.”

The earliest mention we have of Alexander is in the New Zealand Herald on 27 October 1902, where he appears as a witness in the wreck of the ship “May”. The “May”  was under tow from the “Pilot” when the toe became dangerous and the “May” was cast off.

The “May” was wreaked a few days later further down the coast unable to enter a safe Harbour.

“In reply to examination by Mr. A. Rose, Collector of Customs, Alexander Stanaway, a rafter, employed on the Pilot, described the crossing of the bar, about midday on Thursday, October 16. The towline was cast off about three o’clock in the afternoon. The May at the time was making better progress than the Pilot, and taking her steerage way off.

The line was let go by Captain Urquhart, of the May, who shouted to them to haul in. Captain Bonfield then gave orders for the Pilot to hang about. At two o’clock on Friday morning they tried to get the towline aboard the May again, but they gave up the attempt, as there was too much swell on. The may then headed back towards Kaipara, and Pilot stood out to sea. The May was a good sailing vessel, responding well to her helm.”

From this we see that he was employed on the steam tug “Pilot” as a “rafter” at the age of about 16 – which might suggest that schooling for him finished by his early teens..

Like his older brothers he enjoyed sport, in particular rugby, in 1905 he was a member of the Aratapu second Juniors – winners of the 1905 Caps, under the Northern Wairoa Rugby Union. His team played five matches, won four and drew one. It scored 48 points, and had 15 points registered against them.

In 1908 he and his older brother Jack were part of the first NZ Maori Rugby League team to tour Australia, and again in 1909. Alexander in 1911 went on to play for the NZ Rugby League team. He was a forward. During the first tour in 1908, against Sydney Metropolitan Alexander scored 2 tries. The following is taken from 100 years of Maori Rugby League;

Introduction page xii

In one of New Zealand’s more bizarre sporting fables involves the 1908 Maori footballers who allegedly changed from rugby union to rugby league after an impromptu team meeting on the Sydney docks. They were content for history to record that they left their homeland intending to play the 15-a-side game in Australia, only to switch codes when unexpectedly met by officials of the fledgling New South Wales Rugby League.

Page xiii

Although the 1908 tour ended in chaos amid legal action, abandoned games, and desperate fund-raising to pay their debts and secure passage home…. Another Maori touring team was invited back to Australia in 1909…. Alex Stanaway … were other members of those early Maori touring teams to subsequently play for the Kiwis.

Alexander in 1908 tour team photograph – NZRL 75th Jubilee Programme.

Page 10 Maori join the rugby revolt – The 1908 “All Maoris” Tour of Australia

While the All Gold’s were in the latter stages of their Australian tour, a group of Maori footballers was assembling under the guidance of renowned All Blacks wing Albert (Opai) Asher in Tauranga, with the intention of touring Australia. What the NZRU, which had been constituted in 1892, thought about Asher and his squad has not been reported. But it is known that Maori players were unhappy about their treatment by the Wellington based union. The first inkling most New Zealanders had of Asher’s actions was from a story on the Bay of Plenty Times of 15 May and circulated by the Press Association.

“A New Zealand Maori football team, the first representative football team of Maoris and half-caste Maoris to leave New Zealand, take their departure for Australia during the present month. The team has been organised by Asher, the well-known New Zealand representative, and Mr TJ O’Farrell, a prominent Sydney referee. The men comprising the team hail from Tauranga, Te Puke, Maketu, Matata, Rotorua, Auckland, Northern Wairoa, Hamilton, Taumarunui, Manawatu, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and some members are ex-players from St John’s, St Stephen’s, and Te Aute Colleges.

The combination will visit New South Wales and Queensland and will play a 15-a-side game. Maori games will also be given with full equipment. Included in this company is the gold medallist and champion haka performer of Rotorua. The forwards average 14 stone (89kg), and include some inter-provincial men. The rear division average about 12 stone 7 lb (79.5kg), and many of these are noted for their prowess on the football field. The combination numbers 30. Most of the players have already arrived in Tauranga and are busy training. The tour will extend over 12 weeks. In addition to playing football the team will give exhibitions of hakas, war dances and Maori games.”

Page 12

The Maori team duly sailed from Auckland on 25 May, arriving in Sydney four days later. The popular story is that they were surprised to be met at the wharf not by rugby union officials but by members of the fledgling New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL), led by president Henry Hoyle and secretary James Giltinan, and that the Maori players held a brief meeting before voting to swap codes. At least, that was the version given by Ernie Asher in a 1960s Auckland Star interview. But it is now clear that Albert Asher, who was aware of the distinction between the two codes because of his association with players then on the All Golds tour, knew who he was dealing with.

Page 15

Various lists of just who would be leaving with the Maori team were published in New Zealand newspapers and Australian journalists had problems with spellings of the players’ names. A team photograph taken by Royal Studios in Brisbane identified the tourists as:

….Ariki Haira (Alex Stanaway), forward from Auckland and originally Northern Wairoa; Hone Haira (Jack Stanaway), inside back from Northern Wairoa……

Page 18

In midweek, the Maori bounced back to defeat Sydney Metropolitan 23-20 in a thrilling encounter at Wentworth Park…..Forwards Ariki Haira and Punga Pakere scored two tries apiece.

Page 22

The second inter-state fixture was a curtain-raiser to the Maori match against Australia, in which they faced the might of New South Wales bolstered by the additions of Hardcastle and former Lismore inside back Ernest “George” Anlezark, who had gone north with the purpose of winning Kangaroos selection. Australia won 20-10 in what the Daily Telegraph described as a splendid match – the game was full of exciting surprises. In the first half the Maori threatened to utterly annihilate the combination of the Australians but had no luck whatsoever.

Cabled reports to New Zealand said the game was very fast and exciting. In the early part the Maori carried all before them, placing 10 points to their credit before Australia scored. Tries were obtained by Hone Haira and Papakura.

Haira and Ratete were said to be nippy behind the scrums.

Page 23

The Maori responded by winning a remarkable match against another Sydney Metropolitan selection at Birchgrove Park. Messenger was a late inclusion on the wing and the Maori looked down and out when they trailed 13-0 at half time. The team talk must have been inspirational, for the Maori rattled on 34 unanswered points to win 34-13. Said the Sydney Morning Herald: The Maori showed particularly fine combination, dodging, and pace, every man giving a good account of himself, and showed splendid lasting powers. They played a beautiful game and Metropolitan were badly beaten.(Hone Haira scored a try).

Page 35

1909 group photo – Ariki Haira in photo Alex Stanaway and 4 other players from the 1909 tour, went on to represent New Zealand in the Kiwi’s RL team

1909 NZ Maori Rugby League Forwards. Alexander second from left. – 100 years of Maori RL.

Page 37-38 – Footballer and Soldier

No other player was more closely associated with the Asher brothers in the early years of Maori – and in – deed New Zealand – rugby league than forward Alex Stanaway, who, with elder brother Jack, toured Australia in the original 1908 team under their Maori names of Ariki and Hone Haira. While Jack soon afterwards turned his attention to refereeing as the new game became established, Alex went on to fashion an impressive playing career.

Jack Stanaway was to earn his own niche in rugby league history as the referee of the first test match played on New Zealand soil, at the Auckland Domain Cricket Ground when England toured in 1910. Meanwhile Alex Stanaway remained with the Asher’s when they returned to Australia with the 1909 Maori tourists, in the Maori team which played against the 1910 Lions, and during the formation and early playing days of the City Rovers club in Auckland.

The pioneer players had to fill many off-field roles in that era because there was no established administration and Stanaway served as a selector as well as a participant in representative teams. In 1911 he toured Australia alongside Ernie Asher in the first national side to travel overseas under the banner of the one-year-old New Zealand Rugby League.

Page 45

During the 1909 tour of Australia

Several kickers were tried before Haira succeeded with three attempts, two of them penalty goals.

At this time he was still single, working as a labourer and living in Railway Street in Ellerslie (NZ Electoral Roll).

Also in 1909, Alexander played for the new City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition and represented Auckland. We know he played against his older brother John, who played for Ponsonby.

Around 1910 Alexander meets Margaret Matilda Birkett, and they move in together. It turns out that Margaret was already married although she had an absent husband.

Margaret was born on 14 May 1881 and was the daughter of Stewart Rea and Margaret Wishart, Irish immigrants who settled and farmed in Katikati in the Bay of Plenty. They were members of Mr Vesey Stewart’s first special settlement party, which reached New Zealand on September 1875.  Rea was a typical Ulsterman, dour and thorough, who had previously been employed on the Stewart estates in Ireland.

About this same time (1910) Alexander and Margaret have their first child Clarence Llewellyn.

They both appear in the New Zealand Herald on 30 May 1912 states;

“A suit for the dissolution of his marriage with Margaret Matilda Birkett was brought by William Edward Birkett, sawmill hand, of Mananui, before His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards, and a jury of 12, Alexander Stanaway being cited as correspondent. Damages to the extent of 150 pounds were also claimed. Mr A.E. Skelton appeared for the petitioner, the other parties not appearing to contest the suit.

Petitioner stated that the parties were married at Katikati in 1905, and lived together there for some years. There were no children. They came to town later, when petitioner left his wife in Auckland while he went to Whangape to work. On returning to Auckland, at Christmas, 1910, he could not find his wife in the house where he had left her. After some considerable time he found his wife and correspondent living as man and wife at Ellerslie. She had been receiving money from him all the time.

His Honor: You left this young woman in lodgings, with no children, and nothing to do. Why didn’t you take her with you or send for her?

Petitioner: Your Honor, she said she preferred to live in Auckland as it suited her health better.

Petitioner added that he went to Ellerslie, where he and a witness identified the other parties, who admitted that they were living together, and also admitted being the parents of a child. He had known correspondent before the marriage.

After about half an hour’s retirement, the jury announced they had decided that misconduct had taken place, and that damages to the full amount claimed should be awarded.

His Honor stated that the damages would not be awarded to petitioner, and a decree would not be granted for the present. Counsel might apply for the later, and in the meantime he would consider what would be done with the amount awarded.”

The Otago Daily Times 1 June 1912 stated;

“A decree nisi was also granted in the case Wm. Edward Birkett v. Alice Matolda Birkett and Alexander Stannaway, to be made absolute in three months. Damages to the extent of 150 pounds has been assessed by the jury, and this sum or such part as might be recovered was ordered to be paid into court to await disposal by an order of the court.”

In 1910, the Great Britain Lions toured New Zealand. Stanaway played for Auckland against the Lions.

From the New Zealand Herald, 26 August 1911, we have Alexander has been selected in the forwards for Auckland playing against Nelson having already defended their title over both Wellington and Hawkes Bay. His younger brother, Monty is playing in the curtain raiser.

The Auckland Star on 18 September 1911 details the final of the Auckland Rugby League Championship. This game is between City Rovers and Ponsonby United. This game features Alexander in the forwards (he was a prop) for City and his younger brother Monty playing for Ponsonby. Both brothers are mentioned in the article, with outstanding play. The result was double triumph for Alexander, not only are City victorious but he also scored a try, result 35-15, bragging rights no doubt continued until the following season.

In 1911, Stanaway was selected to represent New Zealand in their tour of Australia. No test matches were played on the tour.

In 1912 Stanaway played for the Auckland side that lost to New Zealand 16-38.

On 26 June 1912 Alexander and Margaret have another son Alick (Pick) William, I can see why they did not appear in court – Margaret was due with their second child.

In 1914 he married Margaret Matilda Rea (Certificate number 1914/503) they had moved to Portage Road, Otahuhu.

The 1915 Otahuhu Football Club annual meeting, mentions three Stanaway brothers, John is part of the selection committee, Alexander and Montrose are both and the club committee (Auckland Star 24 March 1915).

On 2 October 1916, Alexander at age 30, is called for service with the NZEF we have them now living in Horotiu near Ngaruawahia – The New Zealand Herald reads;

“During the last week 20 men were accepted for service, their names being; …. Alexander Stanaway, Horotiu…..”

On 4 April 1917 Alexander and Margaret have a daughter – Elva Margaret Stanaway. Alexander has already left for Europe – 27 March 1917 only a few days before Elva’s birth.

In the New Zealand Herald 5 September 1917, he appears in an article with his brothers Alfred and Charles;

“Private Alfred Stanaway, previously reported missing, now reported wounded in left knee and prisoner of war in Lumburg, Alahu, Germany, was employed by the Auckland Racing Club prior to enlistment. He had also served in the South African war. His brother, Lance Corporal Charles Stanaway, died of wounds at the Somme. He also has another brother on active service. All three are married.”

His time in the NZEF has been recorded in the book 100 years of Maori Rugby League;

“Research by members of Stanaway’s family has uncovered an eventful war service records work as a freezing works hand for the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company and enlisted in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in October 1916. Given the rank of rifleman, Stanaway sailed from Auckland on the transport Waitemata in mid-January 1917. Arriving in France, he was attached to the 16^th Company of the 1^st Auckland Regiment.

Stanaway was wounded in action in October 1917, straining his back when almost buried alive by artillery fire at Passchendaele. He was back with his battalion two months later and recovered from illness to join the 2^nd Auckland Regiment in April 1918. Within four days he had suffered a gunshot wound to his right knee. In September Stanaway was fit again, and was posted to the Auckland Regiment reserves and appointed to the rank of lance corporal. Stanaway arrived back in New Zealand in late May 1919 and was discharged in late June.”

In the 1919 Electoral Roll we have them living back in Portage Road, Otahuhu with his older brother John James he is listed as a Labourer.

On 15 May 1923 Alexander and Margaret have another daughter Norma Susan Stanaway.

By the 1928 Electoral Roll we have Alexander living in Raglan in the Waikato and listed as a Labourer.

By 1935 he has settled in Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty, listed as a Labourer and where he coached rugby league. By 1963 he has retired.

On 27 June 1972 aged 85, Alexander dies, he is cremated and buried at the Rotorua Cemetery Sala Street, RSA Ash Berm Block 6A Berm F Plot 29. (Death Certificate number 1972/40806).

Five years later on 23 July 1977 aged 96, Margaret dies, and is buried at the Rotorua Cemetery Sala Street, Block 5 section 13 plot 14. (Death Certificate number 1977/44953).

In 2014 there were 789 men who had been selected to pull on a “Kiwis” (New Zealand Rugby League) jersey among them at number 65 appears Alexander Stanaway.