Ngarimu VC investiture, part 16 - Song for Ngarimu and Ka mate ka mate

School Chn sing Ngarimu.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)
 

This recording was made on the morning of the investiture at Whakarua Park.

Transcript

Sir AT Ngata: … me mea te waiata what about the song for Moana Ngarimu, Mrs Black’s song. That alright? The um Gisborne parties will get ready now. The next will be given by the Tokomaru girls, if they will form up on the canteen.

Right Mrs Mellon. Tuini, kei raro koutou katoa me a koutou tamariki?

Song in honour of Moana Ngarimu, words by Mrs Black of Te Araroa Native School.

Let us do honour to one Moana Ngarimu,
A soldier so brave and true, who died for you and me.
Not long ago he was a boy at school, like you and me;
And now he's earned a V.C., how proud we all ought to be.
Pay honour to the other lads whom we love so well;
And pray that we may worthy be of this our liberty.

Sir AT Ngata: … me ka mate ka mate ka mutu etahi ki a koutou.. Ready. Where are the boys at the back? They’ve got the lungs. Ka mate! Ka mate!

Ka ora, ka ora!

Ka mate! ka mate!

Ka ora, ka ora! Aue tenei te tangata puhuruhuru

Nana i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra.!

Aue, hupane! Aue, hupane!

Aue, hupane, kaupane, whiti te ra.

 

Sir AT Ngata: …hea hea. Applause. Bring all the girls in front of this stand along the path here. All the girls so that they can see the rest of the show. Bring them right round here. The girls please.

Woman gives karanga: Tena ra koutou e nga hau e wha kua tae mai nei ki te whakanui i te ra!

Sir AT Ngata: Ae, kia ora koe e Pare. Ae, kia ora koe e Pare. Mahue mai i to tamahine a Te Kirihaehae i muri. Kua tae mai koe. Nau nga pao ra.
Sings:
I runga Tikitiki te mene nga taitama
He ngau rau manuka nana i huna e.

That’s the origin of those songs that Mrs Black has rendered into English so well. Go on hurry up. We’re pushed for time. The boys will file off on the right and draw up on this side. Never mind the mud. The boys will file off on the right. Whakatata mai te ope o Tokomaru inaianei, Whanau-a-Ruataupare. The people at the back of the stage, not taking part in this, will please make way for the Tokomaru entertainment party. To the left Mr Scott. We have here representatives of the secondary schools also – Carterton, Wairarapa College, Danniverke High School, Te Aute College and  Te Aute College has boys formerly of St Stephens, Bombay. There are girls here representing Victoria College, Turakina Maori Girls School, Hukarere Maori Girls School, St Josephs Convent. There are also here representatives of the Gisborne High School. Mrs Mephan there will be less than the road on the, yeah. Alright. Kia mama mai, kia mama mai. Now, times getting on.

All canteen workers who have finished their hakas will please man their canteens. Ko nga iwi e mahi o nga canteens me haere inaianei. Te Hamana Mahuika me taua mapu e rua nga canteen kei a koe. Te Awemapara me te pariha o Hikurangi.kei a koutou etahi. Mena kei konei o Mangahanea mo te canteen i muri I nga hoia me haere inaianei. Go on boys file off. Jump off the edge of the stand, plenty of room.

Now Mr Mason I hope you are satisfied with what your department has done. It’s been a splendid achievement bringing all these young people together without an accident. The bringing together of 500 children from outside the district. The only hitch was they burst two tyres up the Hicks Bay River and they were a bit late getting kai at Tikitiki. They made up for it, though, when they got there.

Ah, your Excellencies saw these ah young ladies at Tokomaru Bay at the opening of the carved meeting house yesterday. Mrs Fraser reckons they’re the sweetest singers in New Zealand. I have my doubts about that. She hasn’t heard the other ones. Next please. Kia mama poi ma.

 

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. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image reference
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/4-0000689-F
Date: 6 Oct 1943
Crowds of people, including school children performing on stage, gathered at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria during the VC hui.

Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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