Uepohatu concert: 'Uia mai koia'

uepohatu-tukutuku.jpg

'Uia mai koia’ sung to the tune of the classic ‘Paikea’ at Uepohatu in 1947.  The revised song words in this version hail support of England and point out Hitler as the great enemy.

The marae hosted events held on the 12th and 13th of September that included cultural competitions with local school children, the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall, a reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion), a concert 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. 

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.

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.  Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.

Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43116. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image Tukutuku panels for the Uepohatu Hall, Ruatoria - Photograph taken by Owen Johnson. Mackrell, Brent :Photographs relating to Poverty Bay. Ref: PA1-o-1038-20. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23108856

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Submitted by mbadmin on

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