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<p><strong>Song entitled Ngarimu as performed by a group at the investiture ceremony on June 4, 1943 at Ruatoria.</strong></p><p class="maintext">(Site editors note: Some static throughout the recording)<strong></strong></p><h2 class="maintext">Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture<strong><br /></strong></h2><p class="maintext">The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.&nbsp; <br /><br />On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.</p><p class="maintext">The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr &amp; Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/ngarimu-vc-investiture-part-1-…; Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.&nbsp; Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer -&nbsp;John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.&nbsp; Read more about the event <a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3990#Ngarimu">here</a>.</p><div… were <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h… booklets</a> printed for the occassion:</div><div>1) <em>Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting</em> (NSP)</div><div>2) <em>Supplement to the Souvenir Programme</em> (SSP)</div><h2>Transcript</h2><p>Leader: Toru, wha<br />Haere mai ra, e nga morehu<br />Aue te aroha, te mamae!<br />Mauria mai nga tini honore<br />O te Hokowhitu toa, e.<em><br /><br />Verse repeated</em></p><p>Te Moana nui a Kiwa Ngarimu!<br />Maranga mai ra, e te tau!<br />Arahina mai ra nga morehu nei<br />Ki runga i nga marae nei.</p><p><em>Verse repeated</em></p><p>Tenei te iwi nui e tangi nei<br />Mo nga tini hoa kua wehe nei.<br />Titiro kau noa ra, e tama ma,<br />Kei whea koutou e ngaro nei.</p><p><em>Verse repeated</em></p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p class="maintext"><strong>This ceremonial haka is called Kura Tiwaka Taua, a <acronym title="postured dance, performed without weapons">haka taparahi</acronym> of the East Coast people.&nbsp; It was composed in pre-European times.</strong>&nbsp;</p><p class="maintext">An explanation and translation can be found <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h…; target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p class="maintext">(Site editors note: Some static throughout the recording)<strong></strong></p><h2 class="maintext">Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture<strong><br /></strong></h2><p class="maintext">The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.&nbsp; <br /><br />On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.</p><p class="maintext">The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr &amp; Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/ngarimu-vc-investiture-part-1-…; Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.&nbsp; Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer -&nbsp;John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.&nbsp; Read more about the event <a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3990#Ngarimu">here</a>.</p><div… were <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h… booklets</a> printed for the occassion:</div><div>1) <em>Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting</em> (NSP)</div><div>2) <em>Supplement to the Souvenir Programme</em> (SSP)</div><h2><br />Transcript</h2><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata introduction: </strong>Ngarimu recording 7B.&nbsp; This is the men’s ceremonial Haka called Kura Tiwaka Taua. Composed in pre European days, this is one of the classic ceremonial haka taparahi of the East Coast people. The rendering is in the Souvenir programme published in connection with the Ngarimu VC investiture meeting at Ruatoria four years ago and the English version also appears there. And listeners are recommended to acquire the little booklet. In doing so, they will be helping the Ngarimu scholarship fund and also receiving some edification themselves.</p><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata (at gathering): </strong>Mahia mai ta tatau haka Kuratiwaka Taua. This contains the tukiwaka of the Takitumu Canoe halfway down the item, beginning over the page that is the song of the Takitimu canoe on page 30. &nbsp;Ko pai kua whiti te ra inaianei. Right ‘o Jim<a name="endnref1"></a><a href="#endn1">[1]</a> you want to use those eyes.</p><p><strong>Kaea<a name="endnref2"></a></strong><a href="#endn2">[2]</a>: Arara kia whakangahoki au i ahau!<br /><strong>Katoa: </strong>Hi aue, hi!</p><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata:</strong> Hea hea Moni. Hautia to waka e Moni.</p><p><strong><em>Whakaara</em></strong></p><p><strong>Kaea</strong>: Ma konei ake au!<br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> Titaha ake ai, hai!<br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; Me kore e tutaki!<br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> He pupu karikawa, he pupu harerorero hi!<br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; E katikoki!<br /><strong>Katoa: </strong>E ka tahuri!<br /><strong>Kaea: </strong>E Katikoki! <br /><strong>Katoa: </strong>E&nbsp; ka tahuri!<strong>&nbsp; </strong>Ka tahuri ra Nui Tireni, i aue! Au, au ,aue!</p><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata:</strong> Nearly As Good as us so far. &nbsp;<em>Crowd laughter.</em></p><p><em><strong>Taparahi</strong></em></p><p><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; E ringaringa i torona titaha!<br />Papa te whatitiri, hikohiko te uira,<br />I kanapu ki te rangi, i whetuki i raro ra,<br />Ru ana te whenua, e!<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> E, i aha tera e! Ko te werohanga<br />A Porourangi i te Ika a Maui<br />E takoto nei! A ha ha!<br />Kia anga tiraha ra to puku ki runga ra!<br />A ha ha! Kia eke mai to iwi ki runga ki<br />To tuatua werowero ai e ha! I aue, taukuri, e!</p><p><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; Tena ra, Te Moananui e tu ake ki runga<br />Ki te hautu i ohou waka, i a Horouta,<br />Takitimu e takoto nei!<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> A ha ha!<br /><br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; Ara! He tia, he tia, he tia!<br />Ara! He ranga, he ranga, he ranga!<br />Whakarere iho ana te kakau o te hoe ko<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> Maninitua! Ko Maniniaro!<br />Tangi te kura i tangi wiwini,<br />Tangi te kura i tangi wawana!<br /><br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; Tera te haeata takiri ana mai<br />I runga o Hikurangi!<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> Ara! Whaiuru, whaiuru, whaiuru!<br />Ara! Whaiato, whaiato, whaiato!<br />Arara tini! Arara tini! Ara ri!<br /><br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; A ko tena, tena!<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> A ko tena, tena!<br />Ehara ko te wai o to waha, ko te wai o to waha!<br />Hei koti, hei koti, hei koti!<br />Kaea:&nbsp; Ka rere! I ka rere!<br /><br /><strong>Katoa:</strong> Te rere I te waka, kutangitangi, kutangitangi!<br />E kura tiwaka taua! E kura tiwaka taua!<br />E kura wawawa wai! E kura wawawa wai!</p><p><em><strong>Tuku</strong></em><br /><br /><strong>Kaea</strong>:&nbsp; E Ko komako! Ko komako!<br /><strong>Katoa:</strong>&nbsp; Ko te hautapu e rite ki te kai na Matariki. Tapareireia koi tapa! Tapa konunua koiana tukua! I aue hi!</p><h4>Reference</h4><p><a name="endn1"></a><a href="#endnref1">[1]</a> Probably Jim Leach of Whangara</p><div><p><a name="endn2"></a><a href="#endnref2">[2]</a> Although Moni was from Reporua he was working at Whangara.&nbsp;</p></div>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p class="maintext"><strong>Sir Apirana Ngata introduces the Ngarimu VC Scholarship to the crowd present at the investiture ceremony at Ruatoria in 1943.</strong></p><p class="maintext">(Site editors note: Sound levels are uneven - some parts are very loud and includes wind and static)<strong></strong></p><h2 class="maintext">Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture<strong><br /></strong></h2><p class="maintext">The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.&nbsp; <br /><br />On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.</p><p class="maintext">The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr &amp; Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu (6 October 1943) was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/ngarimu-vc-investiture-part-1-…; Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.&nbsp; He had only just lost his seat to Labour's Jack Ormond (Tieki Omana) 12 days earlier, ending a 38-year parliamentary career. Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer -&nbsp;John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.&nbsp; Read more about the event <a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3990#Ngarimu">here</a>.</p><div… were <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h… booklets</a> printed for the occassion:</div><div>1) <em>Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting</em> (NSP)</div><div>2) <em>Supplement to the Souvenir Programme</em> (SSP)</div><h2>Transcript</h2><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata: </strong>Kia ora Hiki (?), kia ora, kite atu, na o hine i whakaatu.<br />Now the next one if you would refer to your programmes, the white programme, the white souvenir programme item 11 and 12 are combined now. The Matatua Ngaroma canoes are combined in doing their item. Now before their item is given I want to say something about the Ngarimu and 28 Maori Battalion Scholarship Fund. The suggestion that the award of honours to the Maori Battalion, members of the Maori Battalion particularly the Victoria Cross should be commemorated in a worthwhile way was made by a European resident of this district at Hiruharama on the 13th day of June. That has since been taken up and before this meeting was held, taking together contributions made by schools that came to hand then. The scholarship funds in this district, has reached 3850 pounds.</p><p>“<em>Crowd applauds”</em></p><p>The amount we are after is 7500 pounds. This does not contain some very substantial contributions on the way from our tribes in what is known as the Eastern Maori district - Hawkes Bay, Wairoa and those places.&nbsp; They are the contributions of the peoples in what is known as the Horouta district between Muriwai on the South and Torere in the Bay of Plenty. They have put up nearly 4000 pounds. I want to say in regard to this fund, it’s nationwide in its character so far as the Maoris are concerned. It is open to every child, of every tribe in New Zealand. It is a matter for the education department to advise the board of trustees of this fund when that board is set up - as to the scope, the terms and the conditions of the scholarships. They are being invested in government stock. &nbsp;Already over 2000 pounds are invested in war loans. The legislation will be necessary to establish the scholarship fund and to set up a board of trustees. &nbsp;Representing Ngati Porou, I have the suggestion to make that the Minister of Education should ex-officio be chairman of the board of trustees. But it may be found advisable later and certainly appropriate to have a board something like the Waitangi board of trustees with the Governor General of the day as the chairman of the board. That is a matter for the Government to consider.</p><p><em>“Small crowd applause”</em></p><p>We have, I won’t say a promise Mr Fraser, but we have, should I say an indication from a very prominent member of the present cabinet that the Government will give serious consideration to the subsidising of contributions by the Maori tribes and Pakeha throughout New Zealand of pound for pound up to 7500 pounds.</p><p><strong>Mr Fraser:<em> </em></strong>&nbsp;I said I'd recommend it.</p><p><strong>Sir AT Ngata:</strong> Ah, Mr Fraser tells me that he’d recommend it. Now that goes beyond a mere suggestion. Homai te pakipaki.</p><p><em>“Crowd applauds”</em></p><p>I have further the assurance of the Prime Minister that after this meeting, in order to make the appeal as wide as possible and affect all tribes here, that the Maori War Effort Organisation shall take it up in all its branches, except, except the districts that have already made their contributions. Now I want to offer one further suggestion, although the scholarship is available for all Maori children of all Maori tribes, I think they should be linked up with some knowledge of the Maori language and in the higher reaches when you get to secondary education there should be some concentration on features of Maori culture, anthropology and so on.</p><p><strong><em></em></strong>I think this is a magnificent opportunity Mr Fraser and members of parliament present here, to make of the efforts of the Maori Battalion and the awards they have gained in the front line to build up a fund for the education, up to date education, of members of the Maori race.</p><p>Kia ora koutou nga iwi nei. Kei te mohio koutou mo tenei hui. Taku tamaiti e Ti, taku mokopuna Tapihana Paikea, tera aku tamariki ko Tokouru kare i konei.&nbsp; Mehemea kei konei taku tamaiti a Tieki Omana, kia ora koe, haere mai. Haere mai ki to taua tuunga. Ma koutou a tatou mahi e whakatutuki. Ko te taha ki nga iwi o te motu, karekau he panui tu i tae atu engari ma runga atu i nga mema Paremata te pohiri ki a ratou kia tae mai ki te hui nei. Na reira, i waiho ai hei konei koutou ka rongo, he penei tetahi o nga kaupapa awhina i ta tatou Scholarship Fund hei painga mo a tatau tamariki puta noa nga motu e rua. Na reira, kia ora koutou.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Image<br /></strong>Apirana Turupa Ngata. Ref: <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23254047">1/4-021044-F. Alexander Turnbull Library</a>, Wellington, New Zealand.</p>

<p class="maintext"><strong>Song performed by the Mataatua and Te Arawa groups attending the investiture ceremony at Ruatoria.</strong></p><p class="maintext">(Site editors note: recording starts part way through song and recording marred by speed fluctuations)</p><h2 class="maintext">Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture<strong><br /></strong></h2><p class="maintext">The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.&nbsp; <br /><br />On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.</p><p class="maintext">The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr &amp; Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/ngarimu-vc-investiture-part-1-…; Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.&nbsp; Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer -&nbsp;John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.&nbsp; Read more about the event <a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3990#Ngarimu">here</a>.</p><div… were <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h… booklets</a> printed for the occassion:</div><div>1) <em>Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting</em> (NSP)</div><div>2) <em>Supplement to the Souvenir Programme</em> (SSP)</div><div>&nbsp;</div><h2>Transcript</h2><p>… tangi mohou kua hinga mai<br />Pare te ope mou i muri nei<br />Ko wai hei rau i whai i o tamariki<br />Ko wai ra hei arahi<br />He oriori e ki a koe Ngarimu<br />Kua hinga ake i Ihipa<br />Kua mutu te mamae</p><p>Kua riro koe i nga kapua<br />Moe i to moenga roa<br />Kua taha koe i nga kino o te ao<br />Moe mai e tama e<br />Huri noa nga tau nei e<br />Ka tangi tonu au<br />Kei roto i taku manawa<br />Te mamae te hui nei</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p><strong>The haka 'Ka hiko tonu au' performed as a song by a Tuhoe group who attended the investiture ceremony.<br /></strong></p><h2 class="maintext">Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture<strong><br /></strong></h2><p class="maintext">The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.&nbsp; <br /><br />On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.</p><p class="maintext">The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr &amp; Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.<a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/ngarimu-vc-investiture-part-1-…; Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment.&nbsp; Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer -&nbsp;John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.&nbsp; Read more about the event <a href="http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3990#Ngarimu">here</a>.</p><div… were <a href="http://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/files/documents/28mb/ngarimu-investiture-h… booklets</a> printed for the occassion:</div><div>1) <em>Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting</em> (NSP)</div><div>2) <em>Supplement to the Souvenir Programme</em> (SSP)</div><div>&nbsp;</div><h2>Transcript</h2><p><strong>Kaea:</strong> Ara kia hiko au e!<br />Toru, wha,</p><p>Kia hiko tonu au<br />Ko taku meremere<br />He tohu i taku toa ki te hoariri e<br />Ka ngaru ai te whenua<br />Ka ngaru ai te moana<br />Ka tu te ihiihi ki ahau e</p><p>Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kei hinga au e kei mate au e<br />Kei te roto tonu au e ha</p><p>To taiaha e tama<br />Ko taku meremere<br />Taku te ihiihi ki ahau e<br />Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kei hinga au e kei mate au e<br />Kei takoto tonu au e ha</p><p>To taiaha e tama<br />Ko taku meremere<br />Ka kino te haere e te iwi!<br /><br />Toru, wha. Kia hiko tonu au<br />Ko taku meremere<br />He tohu i taku toa ki te hoariri e<br />Ka ngaru ai te whenua<br />Ka ngaru ai te moana<br />Ka tu te ihiihi ki ahau e</p><p>Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kia hiko au e, hi!<br />Kei hinga au e kei mate au e<br />Kei te roto tonu au e ha</p><p>To taiaha e tama<br />Ko taku meremere<br />Ka kino te haere e te iwi!<br />Toru, wha, hi!</p><p><em>crowd applause</em></p><p><strong>Sir Apirana Ngata:</strong> Kia ora koutou Tuhoe</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Cynthia Tohe Bell
(1922-1997), Ngati Raukawa, talks about working in the War Records Office
sending out telegrams for delivery to the families of  casualties.</p><h2>Transcript (edited)</h2><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

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<p>There were
many times that the casualty lists would come out through the board.  And they were always of course in
telegrams.  And you maybe asked to do from
A to C of the surnames.  You knew all the
boys who'd gone from Otaki.  It was
always with slight nervousness that you went through.  Other people from here, surnames may've
started with ‘W'.   So you'd find out who
was doing the ‘W' telegrams, and you'd say would you please look for so and so.
 Your own boys and everybody you
knew.  And that was pressure time,
because those telegrams had to be sent out to the people. Saying that they were
missing, been killed or they were wounded. 
They were very trying times.  I
suppose not quite so much for myself, because there were a lot of married women
stenographers and they were really very very upset when the telegrams used to
come in. </p>

<p><em>Question: 
How did the telegrams come?  Did
they come by cable or ...?</em><br />Well all we
got was a sheet.  I would have the sheets
from A to C and someone from D to G and that's really how it worked. </p>

<p><em>Question: 
What did the letters consist of, can you remember what...</em><br />Well really
we only did the telegrams.   I think
during the war the telegrams were sent to the postmaster.  Who then delivered them personally to the
people involved with their children, or their sons. </p>

<p><em>Question: 
So what was the format?  It said I
am sorry or...</em><br />It would
just say the government regrets to say that your son has been reported missing
in action or killed or something like that. 
That's why in those days it was very terrifying for mother's to see a
postmaster arriving, because they knew it was bad news.  </p>

<p><em>Question: 
Always bad news?</em><br />Always bad
news</p>

 <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Extract from Interview with
Cynthia Bell, interviewer Queenie Rawinia Hyland, recorded 4 November 1991,
part of the Women in World War II oral history project by Gaylene Preston
Productions.</p><p>From the Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection,
OHInt-0060-01. All rights reserved. Permission of the Library and Gaylene
Preston must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file</p>

<p>2nd Lieutenant <a href="/node/270">Albert Bennett</a> (Te Arawa) introduces the Battalion singing a song of derision, <em>Hītara waha huka, ūpoko māro</em> (Hitler, foaming mouthed and hard-headed). The Māori words by Tuini Ngawai are set to the popular shearing song <em>Click go the shears</em>. The final line of the words proclaim 'kari ana te kauae, o te parari nei a Hītara e' ('let's punch the jaw of this bloody bugger Hitler!'). It was first publicly performed by massed Ngāti Porou school children at the Ngārimu VC hui in Ruatōria in 1943. </p>

<p>Track eleven from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Major <a href="/node/2573">Wi Pewhairangi Reedy</a> sends greetings to Ngāti Porou together with a special message to Sir Āpirana Ngata hoping that the coming Christmas (1943) will be the last one the Battalion spends overseas before returning home. The tribal song <em>Ngati Porou e</em> follows. C Company men then perform a tribal haka led by Major Reedy.</p>

<p>Track ten from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>In 1943, Captain <a href="/node/927">James Hēnare</a> (Ngāti Hine), later the Battalion's last Commanding Officer (1945-46), speaks on behalf of A Company in a message to the people of Tai Tokerau, Northland. The traditional Northland song <em>Hāruru te Reinga </em>follows.</p>

<p class="field-item odd">Track seven from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>