Ngarimu VC investiture, part 21 - Te Whanau a Ruataupare women perform whakaara

hikurangi-pariha.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 occasion:
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.

Kaea: Kia whakangahoki au i ahau!

Katoa: Hi aue, hi!

Kaea: Ko nga iwi katoa no te wairangi!

Katoa: Taku upoko!

Kaea: I taku!

Katoa: Taku upoko!

Kaea: No tuwainuku!

Katoa: Taku upoko!

Kaea: No tuwairangi!

Katoa: I a ha ha!

Katoa: He koia, he koia ra!

Hei kai mahau te whetu, hei kai mahau te marama..

Piki tonu heke tonu te Puku o te Ika ki te Reinga, kio!

 

Sir AT Ngata: (inaudible) kia tae atu nga tangata ki nga canteens.

Haka continues. This item inaudible due to laughter.

 

Sir AT Ngata: (inaudible) Gisborne party get ready please.

Haka continues. This item inaudible due to laughter.

 

Woman: Kia ora Tuini.

Sir AT Ngata: Kia ora koutou Te Whanau a Rua. Kia ora i a koutou te ingoa o nga kaumatua katoa tera ...

 

Site editors notes:

  • Sound levels are very low and there is intermittent static throughout the audio
  • A question mark (?) after a word indicates transcript is unclear

 


Reference:

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

Image reference

Alexander Turnbull Library
1/4-002071-F
Waiata during hui - photograph taken by J D Pascoe Date: 6 Oct 1943.

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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