Ngarimu VC investiture, part 12 - He putiputi koe e katohia

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.

Transcript

Sir AT Ngata:  There are two items on this record. The first was given by the schoolchildren and the assembled tribes when the gifts were made to their Excellencies Sir Charles, Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall at Ruatoria in October 1943.

NSP 8c

Written addresses of welcome to distinguished visitors were not known to the ancient Maori regime, but they’re quite appropriate in the adapted ceremonials of today. Orations, whether written or declaimed, would, however, lack definiteness without the making of gifts. The Maori accompaniment of song and dance is paralleled by the musical honours of the higher civilisation. Actually the air to this song is a well known one, ‘You’re just a flower from an old bouquet’ rendered into Maori. The first line means ‘You are like a flower plucked to adorn the breast, my love.’ Hence, it was necessary to apologise to His Excellency for the letter of the action song and a request was made to him to accept the spirit in which the gift was made. The title of the item is ‘He putiputi pai, i katohia’ – the modern action song.

It’s not the first time we’ve fought for the crown. A taua tumanako.

NSP 8d

Kaea: Tena i whuia, tahi, rua, toru, wha!

Katoa: He putiputi koe, i katohia’

Kei piri ki te uma, e te tau!

He tau aroha koe, koronga roa,

Koronga i nga ra.

Maku ano ra koe e atawhai’

Kei kino i te ao;

Kia piri tonu ai, hei putiputi pai’

I katohia!

He aha ra, e tohe tonu nei,

Te aroha ki te hoki mai?

He tau i karea e roto te po,

Te ao, nga ra katoa!

Kaea: Aue!

Maku ano ra koe e atawhai’

Kei kino i te ao;

Kia piri tonu ai, hei putiputi pai’

I katohia!

Kaea: Tahi, rua, toru, wha!

Katoa: He putiputi koe, i katohia’

Kei piri ki te uma, e te tau!

He tau aroha koe, koronga roa,

Koronga i nga ra.

Maku ano ra koe e atawhai,

Kei kino i te ao;

Kia piri tonu ai, hei putiputi pai’

I katohia! Hi!

Sir AT Ngata: during song says Kei whea nga taonga nei. Mrs Reedy please come forward. At completion of song he says Taihoa koutou e haka kia tapaitia nga taonga ki te Kawana. Koia te hoa o te waiata i waiatatia mai Waiata mai ana koutou. Tahi, rua, toru, wha.

Site editors notes:

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