Moananui Akiwa Manley
NZ swimmer and beauty pageant winner
About Moananui Akiwa Manley
Lived 1935 – 2017 (aged 81–82). Moananui Akiwa Manley was a New Zealand swimmer and beauty pageant contestant.
Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Hinemoa Whaanga (née Manley; 28 October 1935 – 15 November 2017) was a New Zealand swimmer and beauty pageant winner. In 1954, she became the first Māori to win the Miss New Zealand title.
Early life and family Of Te Arawa descent, Manley was born at Ngāpuna on the outskirts of Rotorua on 28 October 1935, to Nimera Rikihana and Reginald George Harwood "Jim" Manley. Nimera affiliated to the Tūhourangi, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Tarāwhai iwi, and was a direct descendant of Wahiao, the brother of Hinemoa; she was also a cousin of Guide Rangi.
Death Whaanga died in Auckland on 15 November 2017, aged 82, following a stroke. She was buried at Hamilton Park Cemetery, Hamilton.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Moananui Akiwa Manley?
NZ swimmer and beauty pageant winner
When was Moananui Akiwa Manley born?
Moananui Akiwa Manley was born in 1935 in Ngapuna.
When did Moananui Akiwa Manley die?
Moananui Akiwa Manley died on 15 November 2017.
What was Moananui Akiwa Manley's occupation?
Moananui Akiwa Manley was a swimmer and beauty pageant contestant.
What nationality was Moananui Akiwa Manley?
Moananui Akiwa Manley was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Moananui Akiwa Manley
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Moananui Akiwa Manley. https://biography.guide/moananui-akiwa-manley/
MLA: "Moananui Akiwa Manley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/moananui-akiwa-manley/.
Chicago: "Moananui Akiwa Manley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/moananui-akiwa-manley/.
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