Former NRLW Warriors star Kath Wharton (née Keremete), 41, died suddenly from a cardiac arrest on November 21, 2024, after taking a nap in her car at an Auckland McDonald’s carpark following a long-haul flight from Japan. A coroner’s report found she also had Covid-19 at the time, which, along with travel fatigue, may have contributed, though her death was deemed from natural causes. Wharton had a distinguished rugby league career, debuting for the Kiwi Ferns in 2008 and helping them win the World Cup, later playing for the Warriors and Māori All Stars before moving into coaching and sports governance. Beyond the field, she was deeply committed to Māori and community leadership, working with Healthy Families NZ, serving on regional boards, coaching youth, and earning a Master’s in Māori and Indigenous Leadership in 2022. She is remembered as a devoted wife, mother of four, and mentor who “touched so many lives and worked tirelessly for our people, for our tamariki,” her husband Andrew said.