Jim Rukutai

James (Jim) Kumiti Rukutai (born – 11 January 1940) was a prominent Māori leader, interpreter as well as a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer. He played representative rugby league (RL) and coached New Zealand.

Early life Rukutai was born at Kāwhia and affiliated to Ngāti Hikairo and also of Pākehā descent. He was educated at St Stephen's School. He started his career playing rugby union and was part of George A. Gillett's Goldfields team that defeated Auckland in 1906.

He married Bella Rukutai (née Pera) who was a Maori welfare worker and fellow member of the Te Akarana Māori Association . They had two daughters.

Rugby Rukutai played for the City Rovers in the 1910 and 1911 Auckland Rugby League competition and also toured Australia with the New Zealand Māori team. He first made the New Zealand side in 1911, alongside former Union teammate George Gillett. It then turned out that he had actually been suffering from a severe case of chicken pox and he recovered well. This was not the end of his health issues in 1913. He fell from a horse on 16 November 1913 and broke his leg just above the right ankle in Māngere. The horse stumbled and fell on to him.

He toured Australia with New Zealand in 1911 and 1912 and his career continued after the War when he again toured Australia in 1919. However, Rukutai played in no Test matches as during this time New Zealand played matches against New South Wales and Queensland.

In 1923 Rukutai requested to resume his playing career in the Mangere first junior team as a means to "coaching in a practical manner" however in the Auckland Rugby League Management Committee meeting on 13 June his request was denied. However the following year he was part of the Mangere United team which was a team made from the Manukau and Mangere teams which had been competing in the 2nd grade.

In 1932 Rukutai served on the Auckland Rugby League board as the Clubs' delegate. He remains New Zealand's youngest ever national coach.

He also coached New Zealand Māori between 1922 and 1937. On 11 August 1937, he coached the New Zealand Māori to an upset 16–5 win over Australia at Carlaw Park. Rukutai was a key figure to urban Māori advocacy in Auckland, working as chairman and treasurer of the Akarana Māori Association. He also worked to uplight Māori youth and revitalise art and craft practices.

In 1935, Rukutai presented a speech titled, 'The Māori and His Land Problems, Past and Present' to the Auckland Institute and Museum. He spoke about the impacts of Captain Cook, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and conflict between Māori and Pākehā over land. Sir Āpirana Ngata, who was also present, suggested remedy could be made by introduction of farm settlement schemes.

Rukutai also worked as an interpreter and legal advisor in the Supreme Court.

Rukutai was named one of the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League in 2008.