Ngarimu VC investiture, part 2 - Haere mai ra e te kawana

Powhiri A004915.jpg

The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943

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.

The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr & 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.[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.  Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer - John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event.  Read more about the event here.

There were two booklets printed for the occassion:
1) Souvenir of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting (NSP)
2) Supplement to the Souvenir Programme (SSP)

The recording of this song was made on the morning of the investiture at Whakarua Park.
 

Transcript

Sir AT Ngata:  Na, Haere mai ra e te Kawana. Now the band will please play Haere mai ra e te Kawana, followed by, before they sing. Band strike the note up. Never mind the rain, we’ll will get on without it, presently. Captain Pike, you ready with your band? Strike up Haere mai ra e te Kawana.

RNZAF band plays while host party sings song of welcome composed by Sir AT Ngata. Each verse sung twice. Again this is a rehearsal.

NSP 6b

Haere mai ra, e te Kawana, e!                    Welcome to thee, O Governor!

Ki te Tai Rawhiti.                                       Come to the Eastern Sea,

Haria mai te tohu toa,                                Bringing the Cross of Valour,

He mea tohenga nui,                                 Emblem of striving to death;

Na te toto heke ra,                                    Won by the shedding of blood,

Na te whakamomori.                                 By will and effort supreme.

Haere mai ra, e te Kawana, e!                    Welcome to thee, O Governor!     

Haere mai! Haere mai ra!                           Welcome, thrice welcome, to thee!

 

Nau mai, e te Pirimia                                 Greetings to thee, Prime Minister,

Me te Tuarangi!                                         And to thy noble band!

Haere mai ra, kia tangi koe                        Mingle thy tears with ours

Ki taku Raukura.                                       For this our Beloved Son.

Na te ao ana hanga,                                  What cares the world in travail

Kia raru noa ko au.                                   For such a one as I?

Haere mai ra, e hoa ma!                           Come then, ye Sirs, we greet you,

Haere mai! Haere mai ra!                          Welcome, thrice welcome, to you!


After first time through verse 2 Sir AT Ngata:
  E Pita, meatia mai nga programmes. A nau mai e te Pirimia …

After second time through verse 2 Sir AT Ngata:  Tahi, rua, toru, wha.

 

Aotea! Te Waipounamu!                            Aotea and Waipounamu!

Tenei nga kura nei!                                   Here are the honours they earned,

Na te toto heke ra,                                    Risking their lives regardless,

Na te whakamomori.                                 Striving with might and main.

Moana, e! Manahi, e!                                 Moana, son! Manahi too,

Me Te Tuahu ra! Aue!                                And Te Tuahu [Lt M. Wikiriwhi]! Ha!

E tama ma, i hira ai                                  Heroes who have by doughty deeds

Ahau ki runga ra!                                     Lifted my fame on high!

Hi!

After first time through verse 3 Sir AT Ngata:  Tahi, rua, toru, wha.  Meatia mai, bring up the programmes.

After second time through verse 3 Sir AT Ngata:  This is for you the Battalion. Mehemea kare koutou, kare e kiia te iwi Maori whakaekengia.

 

Site editors notes:

  • There is intermittent static throughout the audio
  • A question mark (?) after a word indicates audio is inaudible

 

Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 55843. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image reference
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Title: Ngarimu Investiture Hui, Ruatoria
Reference: A.004915
Date: 06.10.43
Maker: William Hall Raine

Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from Te Papa through its Collections Online website.  Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any reuse of this image

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

Comments (0)