Albert Asher
A pioneering Māori athlete who broke barriers as one of New Zealand's first dual-code rugby internationals in the early 20th century.
1879–1965 (age 86)·NZ dual-code rugby international footballer·Birthday: December 3·The Gilded Age
Biography
In an era when rugby was strictly divided between amateur union and professional league, Albert Asher, born Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, navigated both worlds with rare skill. Hailing from the Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Pukenga iwi, he first made his name as a swift wing in rugby union, earning selection for the prestigious All Blacks in 1905. His switch to the professional rugby league code in 1907 was a bold move, placing him at the forefront of a sporting schism in New Zealand. Asher became a foundational figure for the nascent Kiwi league scene, touring Australia and Great Britain with the famous 1907-08 New Zealand 'All Golds' and subsequent teams. His athletic journey was a family affair, with his brother Ernie also becoming a league international. More than just a player, Asher's path reflected the complex social and sporting choices facing Māori athletes of his generation, leaving a legacy as a versatile trailblazer.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Albert was born in 1879, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Albert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1879
Albert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1879Born
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1884Started school
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Became a teenager
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Could drive
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1897Could vote
President: William McKinley
1900Turned 21
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1909Turned 30
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 40
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 50
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 60
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 70
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 80
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1965Died at 86
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Represented New Zealand in rugby union, playing for the All Blacks on their 1905 tour of Australia.
- Was a member of the pioneering 1907-08 New Zealand rugby league team, known as the 'All Golds', that toured Australia and Great Britain.
- Played representative rugby league for Australasia, a combined team of Australian and New Zealand players, against Great Britain.
Did You Know?
He was one of the first Māori players to represent New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.
His Māori name, Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, reflects his deep tribal connections to the Rotorua region.
After his playing career, he served as a selector for the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.
“I played for the love of the game, whether they called it union or league.”
