The haka 'Ka hiko tonu au' performed as a song by a Tuhoe group who attended the investiture ceremony.
Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture
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
Kaea: Ara kia hiko au e!
Toru, wha,
Kia hiko tonu au
Ko taku meremere
He tohu i taku toa ki te hoariri e
Ka ngaru ai te whenua
Ka ngaru ai te moana
Ka tu te ihiihi ki ahau e
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kei hinga au e kei mate au e
Kei te roto tonu au e ha
To taiaha e tama
Ko taku meremere
Taku te ihiihi ki ahau e
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kei hinga au e kei mate au e
Kei takoto tonu au e ha
To taiaha e tama
Ko taku meremere
Ka kino te haere e te iwi!
Toru, wha. Kia hiko tonu au
Ko taku meremere
He tohu i taku toa ki te hoariri e
Ka ngaru ai te whenua
Ka ngaru ai te moana
Ka tu te ihiihi ki ahau e
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kia hiko au e, hi!
Kei hinga au e kei mate au e
Kei te roto tonu au e ha
To taiaha e tama
Ko taku meremere
Ka kino te haere e te iwi!
Toru, wha, hi!
crowd applause
Sir Apirana Ngata: Kia ora koutou Tuhoe
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
Takupu (0)