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Norm Hewitt

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Norm Hewitt
Birth nameNorman Jason Hewitt
Date of birth(1968-11-11)11 November 1968
Place of birthHastings, New Zealand
Date of death15 July 2024(2024-07-15) (aged 55)
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
SchoolTe Aute College
Notable relative(s)Rob Hewitt
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–94
1995–97
1999–2001		 Hawke's Bay
Southland
Wellington		 92
22
31		 ()
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996–2001 Hurricanes 66 (10)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1993–98
?–2001		 New Zealand
New Zealand Māori		 9 (0)

Norman Jason Hewitt (11 November 1968 – 15 July 2024) was a New Zealand All Blacks rugby union player.

He made a public apology after a drunken incident in 1998,[1] and thereafter became an outspoken advocate of changing drinking habits.

Hewitt participated in, and won, season one of Dancing with the Stars in 2005.[2] He donated his winnings to literacy charity Duffy Books in Homes.[3] Towards the end of his life he was associated with Rangikura School, a primary school in Porirua, Wellington.

Rugby career

Although in All Black squads from 1993 until 1999, Hewitt’s appearances for the All Blacks were limited by the presence of Sean Fitzpatrick and later selectors also preferring Anton Oliver and Mark Hammett. He played 9 test matches (4 as a substitute) and 14 other matches for the New Zealand national team.

However Hewitt played nearly 300 first class rugby matches. This included 15 for New Zealand Māori, 66 Super Rugby and 143 National Provincial Championship matches.

He was the 1996 NPC Second Division Player of the Year.

Personal life

Hewitt was born in the Hawkes Bay, where he was also raised.[4] Of Māori descent, he identified with Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.[4] He was married to former world aerobic champion, Arlene Thomas, who teaches group fitness at Jenkins Gym in Wellington.[5]

Hewitt died from motor neurone disease on 15 July 2024, at the age of 55.[6]

Making Good Men

Hewitt was featured in the documentary Making Good Men, which highlights the relationship between Hewitt and former schoolmate Manu Bennett.[7]

Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand series 1; 2005)

Hewitt and professional dancer Carol-Ann Hickmore won the first series of Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand) on 19 June 2005.

References

  1. ^ "Battling alcohol abuse the Norm Hewitt way"
  2. ^ "Norm's one happy hooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. ^ Cheng, Derek (20 June 2005). "Big Norm was people's choice for 'Dancing with the Stars'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Norm Hewitt | The Peace Foundation". www.peace.net.nz. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Episode 6 - Arlene Thomas-Hewitt". Māori Television. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Norm Hewitt dies: Former All Black, Dancing with the Stars winner loses battle with motor neurone disease". The New Zealand Herald. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Making Good Men". Te Amokura. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
Awards and achievements
New title Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand) winner
(with partner Carol-Ann Hickmore)
Season 1 (2005) 		Succeeded by
Lorraine Downes & Aaron Gilmore


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