Ohinemutu 1943: An address of loyalty and devotion

Bishop Frederick Bennett delivers a message to King George on behalf of Maori in New Zealand.  The message was conveyed to King George's representative Sir Cyril Newall, Governor General of New Zealand at the opening of Tama te Kapua at Ohinemutu, Rotorua.

A short announcement from Sir Apirana Ngata who officiated over the proceedings concludes the recording.

Site editors note: (?) indicates dialogue unclear

Transcript

An address of loyalty and devotion to His most gracious Majesty King George the VI from his Maori subjects in the Dominion of New Zealand.  May it please your Majesty in the midst of the anxieties and tribulations of this universal war, we offer you once again our humble and devoted service and we pray to God that he speed the victory of your arms and of those of the nations who fight with you to preserve freedom and goodwill on earth.  May God bless your Majesty and your Queen and your children, avow safe to you all, health in the days that lie ahead.  The frustrated enemy sees the gathering might of the United Nations poised for his overthrow and destruction.  Already the angels of peace are whispering over lands and seas as they prepare their selves for the tortured peoples of the world.  May their ministrations be directed with wisdom and with an understanding of the roots of human ills, in human ambition, greed and selfishness.  May they serve mankind with a Christ-like will and selflessness.  As the dawn of a much heralded new world breaks painfully and fitfully over black horizons, peoples who are not of your Majesty’s race and blood but who call you King and Emperor wonderingly await the emergence of its face.  What will they read there?  What do they yearn to find written there?  What should they discover portrayed on its battle scarred victorious countenance? Sovereign Lord, your other peoples whose sons and daughters have laid down their lives in your cause, would feign see the face of a man of Galilee down the vistas of the generations ahead so that your own peoples and ours may enjoy in equal measure and with equal dignity and consciousness the blessings of British rule and civilisation.  This war for God should cleanse the grass, prevent snobbery and moral pharisaism in those who rule and promote that trust which engenders a native peoples an answering trust, leading to the love which alone can find together, which alone can keep together men and women of diverse races and cultures.  In these days of stress and trouble, we greet you.  You will be victorious.  May you and yours be happy and glorious – God save the King.

Apirana Ngata: Me whakatata mai a Te Pokiha raua ko Taiamai … a Hemana raua ko Taiamai. Ko raua hei ringaringa ruru ki to tatau, ta tatau manuhiri.