About Bernie Wood
Lived 1939 – 2013 (aged 73). Bernie Wood was a New Zealand athlete.
Bernard Joseph Wood (9 December 1939 – 28 April 2013) was a New Zealand rugby league administrator and sports historian.
Biography Wood was born in Greymouth in 1939 and was educated at Marist Brothers Boys' School there. He was a member of the New Zealand Schoolboys rugby league team in 1954.
After moving to Wellington, Wood served for 24 years as secretary–treasurer or chairman of the Wellington Rugby League. He was deputy chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League in 1992.
In the 2000 New Year Honours, Wood was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sport. In 2008 he was made a life member of the New Zealand Rugby League.
Wood died of cancer at his home in the Porirua suburb of Whitby in 2013, and was buried at Whenua Tapu Cemetery, Pukerua Bay.
Books Books written or co-written by Wood include: Flying sulkies: a history of the New Zealand Trotting Cup 1904–1980. Moa, Auckland (1981). The Cup 1904–2003: 100 years of the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Trio Books, Wellington (2003). The Kiwis: 100 years of international rugby league (with John Coffey). Hodder Moa, Auckland (2007). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008 (with John Coffey). Huia, Wellington (2008). Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009 (with John Coffey). Huia, Wellington (2009).
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Important facts
People in Bernie Wood's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bernie Wood's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bernie Wood?
New Zealand rugby league administrator and sports writer
When was Bernie Wood born?
Bernie Wood was born on 9 December 1939.
When did Bernie Wood die?
Bernie Wood died on 28 April 2013.
What was Bernie Wood's occupation?
Bernie Wood was an athlete.
What nationality was Bernie Wood?
Bernie Wood was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bernie Wood. https://biography.guide/bernie-wood/
MLA: "Bernie Wood." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bernie-wood/.
Chicago: "Bernie Wood." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bernie-wood/.
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