Ruben Wiki

• Ruben holds the record for the most number of international appearances of any rugby league in history.
• At club level he played for the Canberra Raiders before finishing his career with the New Zealand Warriors.
• He current works as the NZRL high performance manager.

"Over the past few years, since retiring from international league, I've been involved with community work in South Auckland. I've met many of my fellow Ngapuhi, particularly youngsters. It's been a real privilege to get to know them, learn about their lives, and listen to their dreams.

"One thing I've learnt is that while many know they are Ngapuhi, they know little about their whakapapa and great Ngapuhi heritage and culture. This is a pity.

"I'm hoping that Ngapuhi can get the Settlement behind it quickly. And I'm hoping that Settlement will allow our iwi the resources to develop a strong presence in South Auckland, so that our youngsters can learn their reo, learn about Ngapuhi culture and give them pride in who they are, and confidence in what they can achieve.

"For me, the Ngapuhi Settlement can't come soon enough. Let's get over the grievance mentality. Let's tackle the future with the pride of the great warriors we once were. Let's make Ngapuhi great again. Kia kaha!"