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'Cherished part of our lives': League star mourned by family ahead of funeral

Author
Raphael Franks, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 25 Nov 2024, 9:44am
Kathleen Wharton. Photo / Photosport
Kathleen Wharton. Photo / Photosport

'Cherished part of our lives': League star mourned by family ahead of funeral

Author
Raphael Franks, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 25 Nov 2024, 9:44am

Rugby league star Kath Wharton, of the Warriors and Kiwi Ferns, is being remembered by her family as 鈥渁 cherished part of our lives鈥 after she died aged 41.

鈥淗er loss [on Thursday] has sent shockwaves through our wh膩nau, leaving us heartbroken and struggling to comprehend the enormity of this tragedy," a relative said online.

Wharton, nee Keremete, died on Thursday.

Her body lay at TeM膩hurehure Marae in Pt Chevalier until Saturday. She was taken to Tuhirangi Marae in Waim膩 on Sunday and a funeral was planned for 10am tomorrow.

鈥淚t is with the deepest sadness we share the news,鈥 Wharton鈥檚 relative said.

鈥淜ath was a cherished part of our lives 鈥 someone whose presence and aroha held together so many worlds, young and old. Her sudden passing has left an ache that words cannot describe.

鈥淧lease keep Kath and her closest loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.鈥

Widower Andrew Wharton said: 鈥淲ords cannot express the grief we feel at the loss of my darling Kath. She touched so many lives and worked tirelessly for our people, for our tamariki.鈥

Wharton was 鈥渁 beloved community figure鈥, taking on a number of leadership roles and board positions after retiring from professional sport, the Rugby League Northland team said.

鈥淜ath was a humble woman with a kind spirit and a heart devoted to her community. Her passing will leave a profound void in our rugby league family,鈥 the team said.

鈥淜ath was an exceptional athlete,鈥 it said.

She represented New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cups in 2008 and 2013 playing for the Kiwi Ferns.

Kathleen Wharton, nee Keremete, joined the M膩ngere East Hawks in 2001. Photo / Supplied

Kathleen Wharton, nee Keremete, joined the M膩ngere East Hawks in 2001. Photo / Supplied

She took a break from playing professionally in 2013 to focus on a career outside the league and raise her family.

Wharton then played for Aotearoa in the M膩ori All Stars W膩hine team in 2019.

Later that same year, Wharton debuted for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women鈥檚 Premiership.

The Warriors said of their former teammate: 鈥淏eyond her many achievements on the rugby league field, Kath was a genuine, kind and beautiful person with such a big heart for her wh膩nau, rugby league and the people of Northland.

鈥淥ur heart goes out to Kath鈥檚 husband, their children, friends and wh膩nau during this difficult time.

鈥淢oe mair膩 e tem膩reikura [rest well, esteemed friend].鈥

Kathleen Wharton was 'cherished' by her family, who are mourning her death on Thursday. Photo / Supplied

Kathleen Wharton was 'cherished' by her family, who are mourning her death on Thursday. Photo / Supplied

Wharton first joined the M膩ngere East Hawks in 2001, playing on the Lady Hawks team. The team said it 鈥渓aid the foundation for what would be an outstanding career鈥.

The club said: 鈥淭hroughout her career, Kath was a tireless advocate for youth development and the growth of girls鈥 participation in rugby league.

鈥淗er work in growing the girls鈥 game in the Northland and Hokianga regions has left an enduring mark on our sport, ensuring that girls鈥 rugby league is in a better place because of her contributions.鈥

After retiring, Wharton was co-chairwoman of the Sport Northland Board, an appointed member of the Rugby League Northland Board, head coach of the Aotearoa M膩ori All Stars W膩hine team and coach for the Hokianga Storm.

鈥淸She] played a key role in the growth of rugby league in Northland,鈥 Rugby League Northland said.

Wharton worked for health and wellbeing advocacy group Healthy Families NZ.

鈥淭he devotion and commitment of Kath has been integral to the success of Healthy Families,鈥 the organisation said.

鈥淭o Kath鈥檚 husband, their children, friends, wh膩nau and the Northland community, Healthy Families New Zealand extends our condolences and aroha at this difficult time."

Wharton got a master鈥檚 degree in M膩ori and Indigenous Leadership from the University of Canterbury in 2022.

Kathleen Wharton graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2022 after a successful career in rugby league. Photo / Supplied

Kathleen Wharton graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2022 after a successful career in rugby league. Photo / Supplied

鈥淔or most of my life I never seen the value in having a formal education and wholeheartedly believed my street smarts and lived experience trumped anything I was going to pay money to learn in a classroom,鈥 Wharton said.

鈥淭wo years of doing my own head in hardout. No summer holidays, sports or concerts. Instead, it was writing retreats, reading and epic w膩nganga [discussions] with the most amazing humans, a small sacrifice that will change the trajectory of my whole life," she said of her studies.

鈥淪urround yourself with them real-life hustlers, paper chasing, big dreamers that hang up in the R膩ngituhaha [heavens]."

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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