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<p><strong>Colonel Reginald Frank Gambrill gives the toast to the Homefront at the reunion of ex-service people held at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.</strong><br /><br /><strong>He served with 1st (Hawke's Bay Company) Wellington Regiment at Gallipoli and on the Western Front during the First World War. He was also Commanding Officer of the Hauraki Regiment from 1924-26.&nbsp; After the war he held many roles including Dominion Vice-President of the Returned Services Association.<a id="_ftnref1" title="_ftnref1" name="ftnref1" href="#_ftn1"></a>[<a href="#ftn1">1</a>]</strong></p><p>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</p><p>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</p><p>At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</p><p>The gathering was an important one. attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp;Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p><strong>Lieutenant Colonel Awatere:</strong> That’s the stuff. Well now the next toast ladies and gentlemen is the Homefront and I have the pleasure of calling upon Colonel RF Gambrill to give that toast.This will be followed with an item by the Tairawhiti Kiwi Club and a response will be given by the Right Honourable P Fraser Prime Minister followed by Mr HG Holland MP and the Honourable ET Tirikatene.&nbsp; Now ladies and gentlemen -Colonel Gambrill.</p><p><strong>Colonel Gambrill:</strong> Gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, Your Excellency, fellow Diggers and Kiwis, distinguished visitors and guests. My toast is the Homefront. I couple it with the distinguished names of the Right Honourable Mr Fraser the Prime Minister, Mr HG Holland MP and the Honourable Mr ET Tirikatene.</p><p>My toast is the Homefront, by only a few minutes. Not all of us can go to war.Some of us were too old, others were too young. Some were indispensable, some were unfit; some had committed misdemeanours and were not wanted. A few, a very few did not desire to go. But in one direction or another each and everyone contributed his little or his lot to the effort on the Homefront. And having been denied the privilege of service overseas which is a privilege that all your fellows have, is yet worth of remembrance at a party such as this.</p><p>The women who worked and watched and waited and worked again. The men who did their own job and another job. Your own Sir Apirana who did ten mens’ jobs. [applause] The Independent Mounted Rifles, the National (?), the Homeguardsmen who wore out his Sunday, his gardening clothes, his second best, his Sunday suit with coupons scarce trained to meet the invader who very nearly got here but just failed. He wants no medals, he now reveres his pair of boots - they are his reward. He learned to know and to respect his neighbour. The men and women of the EPS and a lot of personages of other services and patriotic organisations. The men and women on the farms, and in the factories and in the offices. All the workers on the Homefront and once again, the women, struggling with their coupons who watched and prayed fearfully. All of these and many more I ask you to remember in this toast. They worked upon the Homefront, but what of the Homefront now.</p><p>Today our friends in Britain face an economic dunkirk. The Battle of the food for Britain is upon us. Boys our comrades up the line are hungry. What are you going to do about it?</p><p>The war continues, the fruits of our military victories have not been garnered. You fought for peace, peace. Not for any uneasy pause of insecurity between two periods of active service. Two bloodbaths - are we to have a third? Peace can be secured only by action upon the Homefront. Governments and institutions can not confer peace, acts of parliament can not give it to us. We, we, you and I must achieve it. Peace is of the spirit, something for the hearts and minds of men and women. You and me, each individual, it is our personal responsibility.</p><p>[cut in recording]</p><p>...in victory as at Dunkirk, in a moment set aside for silent prayer. During the shining of (?). How we pray, each and every one of us alone knows, the answer we all know. The utterances of our greatest leaders proves that those prayers were answered. Let us then on the Homefront work for peace, pray for peace, fight for peace and beware the expedience of disarmament and appeasement. We’ve tried that and they were found wanting.</p><p>Peace comes from understanding and understanding from knowledge and goodwill. Here you have goodwill here tonight as ever in any soldiers gathering. Goodwill between men and men based on the selfless service and self sacrifice. Between race and race based upon mutual trust and common understanding. &nbsp;And may I say between party and party, based upon our friend the Right Honourable the Prime Minister and the Leader of his Opposition.</p><p>For final victory on the Homefront the praying need is goodwill on earth, between man and man, group and group, party and party, religion and religion; Jew and Gentile, the (?) and Hindu, race and race and finally nation and nation. Then and only then will we have peace and victory. Armies for war comprise a mass of individuals. Armies for peace must be even stronger, made up of individuals and you can’t conscript for peace. No individual can escape his share of the responsibility for success with what man is now attempting. Peace that it’s so far failed to achieve. It is not impossible, just forget the isms and try Christianity. You fellows won the victory in the field, now we must all win the peace. Or else face the holocaust. We have the most powerful weapons on earth to win the peace – thought, prayer, goodwill. Thoughts can be atoms, properly applied it can control what it (?). Wants, fear, ignorance, intolerance, hatred are the enemies.</p><p>Let your association with the Returned Services Association be a beacon for goodwill throughout our fair land, spreading its fight among the whole community. Then truly will the memorial which tomorrow you will dedicate will typify the aim for which those who it commemorates gave up their lives. Let their spirits guide us onto the peace, peace on earth to men and goodwill. I ask you to be upstanding with charged glasses and to toast, be upstanding. Ladies and gentlemen be upstanding and toast the toast of the Homefront coupled with the names of those distinguished gentlemen to whom I have already referred.</p><p>Ladies and gentlemen I give you the toast – the Homefront.&nbsp;</p><h3>Footnote</h3><div><div id="ftn1"><p><a id="_ftn1" title="_ftn1" name="ftn1" href="#_ftnref1"></a>[<a href="#ftnref1">1</a>] 'War Memorial Buildings Dedicated and Opened,' in <em>Gisborne Photo News</em>, <a href="https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN40_19571017/t1-body-d35.html…; target="_blank">No 40: October 17</a>, 1957</p></div></div>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:</strong> ‘Veterans reunion’, in <em>Gisborne Photo News</em>, <a href="https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN225_19730328/t1-body-d23.htm…; target="_blank">No. 225, March 28</a>, 1973</p>

<p><strong>'Nga whare pa' sung by the Hikurangi Party at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.</strong> <strong>See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

<p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p>

<p><strong>The gathering was an important one. attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p>

<h2>Transcription</h2>

<p>Pohiritia ra nga morehu<br />
Te iwi, tangihia&nbsp;<br />
Te mamae e, me te pouri nui&nbsp;<br />
Tenei ra kua mahea</p>

<p>Chorus:<br />
Hoki mai ra!&nbsp;<br />
Hoki mai ra ki te kainga&nbsp;<br />
E tatari atu nei ki a koutou&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nga tau roa i ngaro atu ai. Te aroha<br />
e ngau kino nei i ahau&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kaea: Tahi, rua, toru, wha! (aue)<br />
<br />
Verse 2<br />
Nga whare pa tenei huakina&nbsp;</p>

<p>(E rere!) Te iwi kia koa&nbsp;<br />
Kua hoki mai nga tamariki toa&nbsp;<br />
Ki te ao ora</p>

<p>Repeat chorus:</p>

<p>Aue! Hoki mai ra!&nbsp;<br />
Aue! Hoki mai ra ki te kainga&nbsp;<br />
E tatari atu nei ki a koutou&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nga tau roa i ngaro atu ai. Te aroha<br />
e ngau kino nei i ahau&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hi!</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/">Ngā Taonga Sound &amp; Vision</a>. (43115).&nbsp; Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Image: </strong>Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">See full image</a><br />
<a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />
005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />
Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p>

<p><strong>The Kiwi Club from Gisborne performs the song 'I nga tau tata' and part of the <acronym title="dance of challenge and welcome; chant with accompanying actions">haka</acronym> 'Ruaumoko' in support of speeches at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.&nbsp; </strong><strong>See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</p><p>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</p><p>At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</p><p>The gathering was an important one. attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp;Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</p><p><strong>Site editors note:</strong> Background talk from the gathering&nbsp;is&nbsp;part of this recording, including Sir Apirana Ngata introducing the item.</p><h2>Transcription</h2><p><strong>A T Ngata:</strong> (Introducing item) A Kia ora tatau! Ka tae nei ki ga korero me turituri! A ko te Nati he iwi hoihoi. A kei a koutou kei te kimi waiata kinaki mot e korero a (Someone) Campbell. Te Kiwi Club from Gisborne.</p><p><strong>Kaea:</strong> I nga tau nei</p><p>Torona kei waho!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Katoa:</strong> I nga tau tata nei</p><p>I nga tau roa</p><p>Ka huihui tatou e</p><p>He aha i hui ai?</p><p>He aroha ra</p><p>Ki nga hoa i te po</p><p>Takoto kino mai e tama ma</p><p>Hei aki tonu mau ki pamamao</p><p>Takoto i te moenga roa</p><p>Mohou mo koutou e</p><p>(Ano)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>E nga taitamariki o Aotearoa</p><p>Kia ora e tama ma</p><p>I haere koutou</p><p>Kia maia e!</p><p>Te ao e tohe tonu nei</p><p>I naia ko te he e rangona nei</p><p>Te pu me te pakanga he huna ra</p><p>Te momo o te tangata kia tipu ai</p><p>Mohou mo koutou e</p><p>(Ano)</p><p>Tahi rua toru wha! Hi!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Kaea:</strong> Kokoma! Kokomako</p><p><strong>Katoa:</strong> Ko te hau tapu e rite ki te kai na Matariki</p><p>Tapareireia koi e tapa</p><p>Tapa konunua koi ana tukua</p><p>Hi! Aue! Hi!</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image: </strong>Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223">See full image</a>. <br /><a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p>

<p><strong>Major McCready proposes the toast in honour of the RSA and the 2NZEF at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.&nbsp; His toast is prefaced by Sir Apirana Ngata discussing the raising of the flag the following morning.</strong></p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one. attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp;Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><p><strong>Transcript</strong></p><p>Apirana Ngata: For everybody’s pleasure on behalf of the Whakarua Park Board and the Whakarua Park Board represents the settlers, Pakeha and Maori of this district in accepting the gift of this flag. At six o’clock tomorrow, at Reveille, the ceremony of raising the flag will be carried out, quietly, it’s a bit early. And this flag will commence flying on a flag pole given by the people of the Mangapopo Valley, standing out there. So tomorrow morning is the dedication of the flag and the flagpole of which we will fly – kia ora tatau.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lieutenant-Colonel Awatere: Ladies and gentlemen the next toast is to the RSA and the 2nd NZEF and I have much pleasure in calling upon Major McCready to propose that honourable toast. Ladies and gentlemen Major McCready.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Major McCready: (?) Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m very proud indeed to have this honour proposing the toast to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the Returned Services Association. I do not intend referring to the exploits of the Second NZEF, or in particular the Second NZ Div. As I know very well that most of you have taken part in those exploits. Those of you who haven’t have read of those exploits and if there are any gaps then you’ve heard so many stories about those exploits I think they would adequately fill those gaps.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But I do want to say on this occasion, that we of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force are very proud, we are very proud of the honour and privilege of serving with that Force. And that we are very fortunate that we had Your Excellency Sir as our leader and our commander. With regard to the RSA let me say, that here again we have an organisation of which it is our privilege to belong. The RSA is our Association and it is the only Association in this country and is exclusive to us as ex-servicemen. And it is also one, which is our responsibility to keep going in order that we may continue the good work of those who proceeded us. And to have a strong Force to help those comrade in arms who need help now and who will need help in the future. We are fortunate again that our fathers’ built up this organisation and it is now our duty and our heritage to continue the traditions of that organisation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And so ladies and gentlemen, I’ll ask you please to rise and drink to the toast of the RSA and the 2NZEF. The RSA and the 2NZEF.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:&nbsp;</strong>Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">See full image</a>. <br /><a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p></div>

<p><strong>First World War veteran Major Te Reiwhati Vercoe&nbsp;responds to the toast in honour of the RSA and the 2NZEF&nbsp;at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.&nbsp; See the programme <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the Investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one. attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp;Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><p><strong>Major Vercoe(Ngati Pikiao/Ngati Tuara)&nbsp;served in the Tauranga Armed Rifle Volunteers, Seventh Contingent in the South African War and in the Pioneer Battalion of World War I.&nbsp; His actions in war earned him the Imperial South African War Medal and the Queen’s South Africa Medal and he was Mentioned in Dispatches in WWI.&nbsp; He was recommended for the Victoria Cross but did not receive it.&nbsp; He tried to enlist with the 28th Maori Battalion but because he had falsified his age in 1901 for the South African War he was turned down as being too old. He was captain in the Rotorua Home Guard battalion, promoted to temporary Major in May 1942, and took command of the Matata Military Camp in February 1943. He became heavily involved in the Maori War Effort Organisation and was posted to the retired list on 28 April 1946 and awarded the New Zealand War Service Medal.</strong></p><p><strong>Major Vercoe's sons, Henry and William, and his nephew Edward Ruhi served with the 28th Maori Battalion.<br /></strong></p><h2>Transcript</h2><p>Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, Rt Honourable the Prime Minister, your Ministers, the uh Mr Holland – Leader of the Opposition, Ladies and Gentlemen.</p><p>I will reply to this toast, as an old soldier, a soldier of the First World War. I will leave to my young friend Captain Ngata the honour of replying on behalf of the men of this war.</p><p>Mr Chairman it is not necessary for me to say how proud I am to be here at this very great gathering tonight. I think a gathering like this is the first of my experience at any rate that has taken place where so many of the both races, the leaders of our country, graced by the representatives of our gracious Majesty the King and the very great assembly of the European and Maori people.</p><p>The RSA, Mr Chairman, means something just a little different from any other Association. It represents the Association whose, of men, who cemented their life, their friendship on fields which is not trodden in ordinary times. And because of that thanks Mr Chairman, I wish to say this, that as a Maori soldier I am indeed grateful that I have been privileged to be present at a gathering like this. It is rather unique that we of the Maori people, to have with us your Divisional Commander and at the same time your Battalion Commander who laid the foundations of your great service as a Maori Battalion in the war just been. [applause]</p><p>And, to we of the old Brigade, may I say this, that we are indeed privileged to be present here with our sons, and to see and hear the conversations of our commanders, the leaders of our country, those responsible citizens who are so well able to judge the worthiness of the service of our Maori people.</p><p>Now, may I just say this on behalf of that organisation which we are I am sure, very proud to belong – the RSA. They are a brotherhood. They are men who will not go into anything unreasonable. They ask for reasonable things, at least that’s what I think they should do. Don’t ask for something impossible but ask for a fair deal. And I feel at the present time in this country, with the leaders that we have and the Opposition that we have in our party that they will see that you as Returned Servicemen will get a square deal.&nbsp;</p><p>Now, Mr Chairman, the evening is getting on and may I in conclusion, for my part in this toast, thank the gentleman who proposed it. Thank the way in which this gathering has received the toast and in conclusion may I wish you Sir, your good Lady, the leaders of the parliament who are here today - all success. And, we hope that in the troublesome time that we’re going through, in the present time that your experience tonight of the co-operation and the mingling of the both races of this country will give you inspiration in working out the salvation of this country and for the great Empire which we all love so much.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:&nbsp;</strong>Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223">See full image</a>. <br /><a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p>

<p><strong>Captain Henare Ngata responds to the toast given by Major McCreadie at the reunion for ex-service people held at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.&nbsp; See the programme <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym>hosted events held on the 12th and 13th of September that included cultural competitions with local school children and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall. The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.</strong></p><p><strong>At the investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><p><strong>Captain Henare Ngata&nbsp;embarked with the Main Body. He spent four harrowing years as a Prisoner of War after being captured at Kalamata in southern Greece on April 29th, 1941.</strong> <strong>On his return from the war he completed his BA and Bachelor of Commerce at university.&nbsp; Henare went on to do many amazing things, including being the first Maori accountant. He was knighted in 1982 for 30 years of service to Maori. After retirement he continued working on matters Maori including the C Company Trust.</strong></p><h2>Transcript</h2><p>Mr Chairman, Your Excellency, the Prime Minister and Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the Servicemen of this war I would like to thank Major McCreadie for the very kind remarks that he has made about it. Time is short, time’s getting on, I shall limit myself to a very few remarks. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the hope that the cooperation and friendship between Maori and Pakeha, formed while we were pursuing the objectives of war will be the basis of that peacetime cooperation between the two races which is so necessary to our harmony. And, let me add that in the hall which will be unveiled tomorrow we have an example of the cooperation which exists in this distrct between Maori and Pakeha. And I think in that respect we are examples to the rest of the country.</p><p>In conclusion Mr Chairman, I should like to say on behalf of the members of the Second NZ here how very proud we were to have as our commander Tiny Freyberg. And on behalf of Sailors, Airmen and especially Kiwis I should like to pay a tribute to that very gallant group of people who did so much for us while we were overseas. I refer to Lady Freyberg and her gracious band of Tui.</p><p>Now once again, ladies and gentlemen I wish to thank Major McCreadie for his very kind remarks.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:</strong> Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust</p>

<p><strong>Captain Arnold Reedy toasts the honoured guests in attendance at the reunion of ex-service people held at Uepohatu Marae in 1947. </strong><strong>See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><strong>Arnold Reedy was 38 and married with five&nbsp;children when he enlisted. He was well outside the criteria but he pushed his claim to be included in the Maori Battalion. He was concerned about the lack of enlistment. Also as a role model in the tribe&nbsp;he knew his action and example would be noted and followed[<a href="#ftn1">1</a>].&nbsp;&nbsp;Reedy </strong><strong>embarked with the Main Body. He was caught in Crete and spent four years as a prisoner of war.</strong></p><h2><strong>Transcript</strong></h2><p><strong>Lieutenant-Colonel Awatere:</strong> Well now ladies and gentlemen, me korero Maori kia tatau i te tuatahi. Ka nui te hoihoi, a, te turituri, kia ahua ngawari.</p><p>To our Pakeha friends, a little silence would be much appreciated. We come now to our last toast on our list – our guests. Our guests of honour tonight ladies and gentlemen as you know are their Excellencies General Sir Bernard Freyberg and Lady Freyberg.</p><p><strong>Apirana Ngata:</strong> Hikurangi haka party, e piki ki runga i te stage. Hikurangi haka party, e piki ki runga i te stage. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>Lieutenant-Colonel Awatere:</strong> That would give me the greatest of pleasure to call upon Captain Arnold Reedy to propose this toast.&nbsp;Ladies and gentlemen, Captain Reedy.</p><p><strong>Captain Reedy:</strong> E Awe, te ahua teretere koutou ki te piki mai ki runga i te stage. &nbsp;Kia ahua kamakama.</p><p>Mr President, the Right Honourable&nbsp;the Prime Minister – Mr Fraser, Ministers of the Crown, Mr Holland and Members of Parliament, Diggers and Kiwis, ladies and gentlemen. I am about to propose the last but not the least of the toasts for this evenings proceedings. When Sir Apirana Ngata informed me of the nature of the task allotted to me by the promoters of this admirable function I was profoundly moved. I was deeply stirred by the great honour of proposing to you all this evening the toast to our guests of honour their Excellencies the Governor General and Lady Freyberg [applause].</p><p>In so doing, I would like firstly to assure them how glad we are to have them with us during this gathering. [applause] That we welcome them with open arms and warm hearts to these premises of the intensely loyal Ngati Porou tribe. On this their first visit to the territories of their East Coast peoples both Pakeha and Maori. We have had many Governors General, but we haven’t had one closer to us than the present one. For his youth was spent in this country which he left as a young man at the call of his own soul to roam the world, at last to find the path, which finally led him to perform noble deeds and render distinguished of services to his Majesty the King and Empire.</p><p>Now that, that er, severe phase of his career is over, he is back again in the land of his youth. This time in the meridian of his life as the personal representative of his Majesty the King whom we all love and revere. He is here this time to win his peace, no less reknown than in war.</p><p>Colonel Awatere Sir, a great man from the musty pages of antiquity, has left these two sayings on record: “For all of illustrious men, the whole earth is the sepulchre,” and, “where there are praises for virtue, there the most virtuous men are to be found.” To fight for ones country with all ones might and to defend it with utter contempt for personal safety. To my mind it can only be the highest form of virtue and I submit to you tonight without fear that General Sir Bernard Freyberg VC is the personification of this virtue. Of which the real rewards and prizes are not the plaudits of the worshipping multitudes. Nor the coveted honours so richly deserved by such men as our distinguished guest of honour but the freedom and root of civilisation which the whole lot of us enjoy.</p><p>Sir Bernard’s military talents and personal prowess are embellishments of the history of the New Zealand division which will be preserved by the annals of war as a guide for the proper conduct of our future manhood. On the Whakarua Park here, the genius, the genius, the inspiring genius of our great elder Sir Apirana Ngata has given us the sepulchre, not for the mortal remains of our illustrious dead but for their undying and immortal spirit of which their great commander is the living ?.</p><p>Therefore ladies and gentlemen, it could not be more fitting that the hand which directed your sons in battle should on the morrow dedicate this shrine to their memory. Your Excellency, the remnants and veterans of two World Wars are eager to see and hear you speak. And also to feel your presence once more. And again to thank you, to thank you, and Lady Freyberg, with the bottom, from the bottom of their hearts for coming this far, to encounter the discomforts of these isolated parts to perform this sollum duty to our fallen comrades, lest we forget, lest we forget. [applause]</p><h3><strong>Footnote</strong></h3><div><div id="ftn1"><p><a id="_ftn1" title="" name="ftn1" href="#_ftnref1"></a>[<a href="#ftnref1">1</a>] Monty Soutar,<em> Nga Tama Toa</em>, 2008, p.40</p></div></div>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image: </strong>Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust</p>

<p><strong>His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Bernard Freyberg responds to toasts given at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947. </strong><strong>See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><p><strong>Freyberg, affectionately known as Tiny, was Divisional Commander of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He led the Greece, North African and Italian campaigns. A veteran of the First World War he had won numerous honours including a DSO and the VC. He added a third bar to his DSO in the Second World War and was promoted to lieutenant general. He was also appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of Bath for his leadership of the New Zealand Division during the second battle at El Alamein. </strong><strong>After the war he was invited to be New Zealand’s Governor-General, the first with a New Zealand upbringing. He spent 6 years in the role and returned to England in 1952.</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Site editors note: This symbol (?) denotes the words are inaudible to the transcriber</p><h2><strong>Transcript</strong></h2><p><strong>Lieutenant Colonel Awatere:</strong> Ladies and gentlemen, it has now come to the time where it gives me the greatest pleasure and rare honour of calling upon his Excellency Sir Bernard Freyberg to respond.</p><p>[Cheers from crowd]</p><p><strong>Crowd member:</strong> Hear, hear Tiny</p><p><strong>Sir Bernard Freyberg:</strong> Colonel Awatere, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr Holland and members of the Cabinet and comrades of both world wars. I should like to thank Captain Arnold Reedy for the very kind and admirable toast that he proposed of the visitors, coupling my name, or rather coupling my name to reply.</p><p>I realised when he spoke, that the kind way in which you received this toast is due mostly to the fact that I am your Governor General and representative of his Majesty the King. But I could detect a more personal note in your kindness to me. You all know, no doubt that I was your Divisional Commander and as such was in control of so many of your men during the last 6 years. These war links, these war links are very definite ones and as the time goes on I think we realise how great they are. It is therefore with great pride and pleasure in the centre of the Ngati Porou tribe that I come up here and reply to this very important toast. This is a memorable meeting here and you have some very important people here in your midst. You have, the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, Members of the Cabinet. You have your first Commanding Officer Colonel Dittmer to whom you the Maori Battalion owe so much and a very large and important body of members of the Returned Servicemens Association of two world wars. You also have here probably one of the greatest gatherings of Maori ex-servicemen, certainly the greatest gathering of Maori ex-servicemen as it has been my privilege to come and address.</p><p>And just as I sat and listened to the speeches, my mind wandered back to the times of Gallipoli and of France, to Greece and Crete and the Western Desert and of Italy and I thought of the good fellows that we have been associated with, I thought of the good fellows that we have been associated with and I am certain that those people all over the world think and talk about us in more or less the same way as we do.</p><p>And I should like to add my word of praise to Colonel Leggat, to the remarks of Colonel Leggat about the Armed Forces of the Crown. The New Zealand forces will never forget and should never forget what they owe to the Royal Navy in Greece and Crete. [applause]. They should never forget what they owe to the Royal Air Force in the Western Desert and in Italy. [applause]. And I think most of us, when we think of the British Army, no matter where it is, realise how very much we and the New Zealand forces had in common with that great band of people.</p><p>I would like now to talk a little bit about our own forces the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. I feel rather like a parent talking about its child. I feel that it’s skating on thin ice. I feel so much asosociated with all that it did and any praise I give may be construed into praise of myself. But nevertheless I would like to say one or two words about that great force. I would [sound cuts out]</p><p>…that by any day, compared with any troops, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force as the first one, must rank very high. I feel that generations of soldiers yet to come when studying the art of war at the Staff Colleges and the training establishments will consider the achievements and the tactics of that very remarkable force more or less in the same way as before this war, we considered the work of Crawfords like division in the peninsula a hundred and fifty years before. A hundred years is not long. Only last week I had a letter from Brigadier Parkinson who’d gone across to the tactical school in Germany, that is the British Tactical School in Germany, where he said the highlight of the tactical course was the crossing over the Senio on the 9th-10th of April 1945 by the New Zealand Division. And I would recommend them to study that operation because I feel that it was a classic and they would learn a lot from studying an operation of that sort. [applause]. I don’t know whether there were many of the Maori Battalion that were present at that operation. You will remember if you did, that part of the cover plan was to disguise the New Zealand troops as the 78th British Division which we had, we had relieved. And we dressed up in Tommy clothing with battle axes on our shoulders. And I remember seeing our chairman one morning before the operation, Peter Awatere, dressed up as a Tommy, battle axe on his shoulder and all his men referring to him as ‘Toom’. Well, in that operation the Maori Battalion played a very important part and as I am going to be serious in what I say to you, tomorrow, perhaps you will bear with me if I am a little lighter in the hand tonight.</p><p>The Maori race, the Maori troops quite apart from their great action in battle, were of great value to our division from a moral point of view. The Maori soldier loves a laugh. There is one thing he loves more and that is to make the Pakeha laugh. And, gentlemen he has genius for doing it. I sometimes wonder whether it is his quickness or whether he thinks it out. I think sometimes one and sometimes the other. I’ll give you an instance of the quickness of humour of the Maori. We were in June 1940, the Second Echelon – the Glamour Boys – had arrived in the old country. And I had a look of them and I didn’t like the look of them. They’d been about two and half months on the ship wearing sand shoes and they all thought they were fit, but I didn’t think they were fit. So I sent them for march of a hundred miles in a week. And it was lovely weather we were marching across the Sussex wield. I don’t think any of them that took part in it will forget it. Especially after the march they put on sandshoes and went into the local. Well, I went along, every night, to see them march in the various battalions. And on this night in particular, they were finishing up in a village at the top of a very steep hill, after 20 miles. And here the old Maoris marching up the hill full packs, sweat streaming down their faces, it was very hot. And when they got to the top of hill one of the Sussex people said “what do you think of the hill?”<br />“What hill!” said the Maori. [laughter] <br />That was obviously thought out.</p><p>Well the second story I wanted to tell you, 1943, after the desert victory, North Africa star had been given. Maori boy in Cairo, nice, short trousers, very clean, nice shirt, complete with North Africa star. Went into the club, standing in behind the counter was a Tui looking very smart but also with a North Africa star. So this (?), but he came on and he walked up to the counter and he said to her “what’s that?”</p><p>So she looked down and she said “The North Africa star.” <br />He said “Have they given you that?” <br />And she said “Yes of course”. <br />And he said “What, they’ll give it to bloody donkeys next!” [applause and cheers]</p><p>I’ve only once seen a Maori at a loss for words. Also in the Club, in that Club we had a lot of voluntary workers. And we had some very fine Egyptian women, very well educated COPs, Christians. And they were great friends of my wife’s and ours. And they used to be dressed in the usual overall that was worn by the Tuis’. Nice green garment with the Onward badges on the lapels. The Maori came in and he had a look at this girl and he walked to one side of her and then he walked to the other side of her and then he walked up to her and said “look here old girl” he said “you’ll have to watch it, you’re looking more like a Gypy everyday!” [laughter]<br />And she said, she said to him “Thank you I am an Egyptian.”<br />Where upon the Maori withdrew and history doesn’t relate what he said or felt.</p><p>Well now, I know it’s getting late and I have one further thing that I would like to say and it’s this. We the visitors, have been honoured by some very fine speeches and we feel very, and we feel that we have had a great pleasure and a privilege of being invited here and treated as your guests at this entertainment. May I therefore on behalf of my wife and myself and the various guests, Members of the Legislature and others, thank you very much for having us here and being so generous in your entertainment. Thank you very much.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image: </strong>Bernard Cyril Freyberg. New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency. Ref: 1/4-017933-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22797434">http://natlib.govt.nz/records/2…;

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><strong>The Uepohatu haka&nbsp;party sing ‘Haere mai ra, e te Kawana e” at the reunion of ex-service people at Uepohatu Marae in 1947. See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><h2>Transcript</h2><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai ra, e te Kawana, e!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome to thee, O Governor!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Ki te Tai Rawhiti.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Come to the Eastern Sea,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haria mai te tohu toa,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bringing the Cross of Valour,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">He mea tohenga nui,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Emblem of striving to death;</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Na te toto heke ra,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Won by the shedding of blood,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Na te whakamomori.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By will and effort supreme.</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai ra, e te Kawana, e!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome to thee, O Governor!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai! Haere mai ra!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome, thrice welcome, to thee!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab"><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Nau mai, e te Pirimia&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Greetings to thee, Prime Minister,<em></em></p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Me te Tuarangi!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And to thy noble band!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai ra, kia tangi koe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mingle thy tears with ours</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Ki taku Raukura.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For this our Beloved Son.</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Na te ao ana hanga,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What cares the world in travail</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Kia raru noa ko au.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For such a one as I?</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai ra, e hoa ma!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Come then, ye Sirs, we greet you,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Haere mai! Haere mai ra!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome, thrice welcome, to you!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">&nbsp;</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Aotea! Te Waipounamu!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aotea and Waipounamu!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Tenei nga kura nei!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are the honours they earned,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Na te toto heke ra,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Risking their lives regardless,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Na te whakamomori.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Striving with might and main.</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Moana, e! Manahi, e!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Moana, son! Manahi too,</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">Me Te Tuahu ra! Aue!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And Te Tuahu [Lt M. Wikiriwhi]! Ha!</p><p class="boxcopy1centretab">E tama ma, i hira ai&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Heroes who have by doughty deeds</p><p class="maintextfirstline">Ahau ki runga ra!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lifted my fame on high!</p><p>Hi!</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:</strong> Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">See full image</a>. <br /><a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p></div>

<p><strong>Sir Apirana Ngata closes proceedings and the gathering&nbsp;again&nbsp;sing the national anthem 'God save the King' at the reunion for ex-service people held at Uepohatu Marae in 1947.</strong>&nbsp; <strong>See the programme </strong><a href="/node/25223" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p><strong>The <acronym title=" open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself">marae </acronym><em></em>hosted events&nbsp;held on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;that&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children&nbsp;and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held.&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>At the investiture held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</strong></p><p><strong>The gathering was an important one attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</strong></p><h2><strong>Transcript</strong></h2><p><strong>Ngata:</strong> Tenei ra te mutunga o tatau mahi. It’s been a bit long. You can’t regulate a proceedings when there are politicians present.</p><p><strong>Sir Bernard Freyberg:</strong> [Laughter] I didn’t speak very long.</p><p><strong>Ngata:</strong> You have Mr Chairman a privilege to put the bell on it. The concert although delayed will be on in the new hall tonight. His Excellency and party will enter it presently by the side door, not the front door which we will not cross until tomorrow. We’ll try and carry out a concert hereafter and I’m sure you thoroughly enjoyed the reunion. And I have certainly appreciated His Excellencies remarks especially his objective characterisation of the wit and humour of the Maori. The late Mr Coates all begged part that we should send some Maoris with the Third New Zealand division to the Pacific. He said “for godsakes send some Maori to make the Pakehas laugh”. If that’s our mission in life your Excellency it’s not a bad one.</p><p>I ask you now to rise to sing “God save the King”.</p><p><strong>The gathering sing: <br /></strong>God save our gracious<br />Long live our noble king<br />God save our king</p><p>Send him victorious<br />Happy and glorious<br />Long to reign over us<br />God save our king</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image:</strong> Crop of programme from the Special Reunion of ex-service personnel. <a href="/node/25223" target="_blank">See full image</a>. <br /><a href="https://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">National Library of New Zealand</a><br />005 - Papers re Uepohatu hall and a reunion, 1947<br />Reference Number: MS-Papers-6919-0163. Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata Collection, 1874-1950 : Papers (MS-Group-0941)</p>

<p><strong>'Takiri takiri' performed by the Taiporutu Maori Club from Rotorua at Uepohatu marae in 1947.&nbsp; </strong><strong>The Club was founded in 1944 by Henry Taiporutu Mitchell to revive the language, customs and performing arts of Te Arawa. Members also contributed to the community; visiting hospitals and performing for distinguished visitors including members of the Royal family and Eleanor Roosevelt.<a name="ftnref1"></a>[<a href="#ftn1">1</a>]</strong></p><p>The events held at Uepohatu on the 12th and 13th of September included cultural competitions with local school children,&nbsp;a reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion), a concert and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars. </p><p>At an investiture ceremony held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</p><p>The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</p><p><strong>Footnotes<br /></strong><a id="_ftn1" title="" name="ftn1" href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/#_ftnref1"></a>[<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/#ftnref1">1</a&gt;] Programme for the Taiporutu Club, 1947. MSX-4248. <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">Alexander Turnbull Library</a></p><div class="field field-type-text field-field-reference"><div class="field-label">Site administrator note: Recording levels are very low in parts of this audio.</div><div class="field-label">&nbsp;</div></div>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image: </strong>Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust</p>

<p><strong>'Taku ripene pai' performed by Taiporutu Maori Club from Rotorua at Uepohatu marae in 1947.&nbsp; </strong><strong>The Club was founded in 1944 by Henry Taiporutu Mitchell to revive the language, customs and performing arts of Te Arawa.&nbsp; Members also contributed to the community; visiting hospitals and performing for distinguished visitors including members of the Royal family and Eleanor Roosevelt.<a name="ftnref1"></a>[<a href="#ftn1">1</a>]</strong></p><p>The events&nbsp;held at Uepohatu on the 12th and 13th of September&nbsp;included cultural competitions with local school children,&nbsp;a reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion), a concert and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.&nbsp; The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars.&nbsp;</p><p>At an investiture ceremony&nbsp;held on the second day, seventeen decorations were presented to servicemen and women who had served abroad and on the home front.</p><p>The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including&nbsp;the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.&nbsp; Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.</p><p><strong>Footnotes<br /></strong><a id="_ftn1" title="" name="ftn1" href="#_ftnref1"></a>[<a href="#ftnref1">1</a>]Programme for the Taiporutu Club, 1947. MSX-4248. <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/&quot; target="_blank">Alexander Turnbull Library</a></p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image: </strong>Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust</p>