Ngarimu VC investiture, part 5 - Ka panapana

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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)

The recording of this haka was made on the morning of the investiture at Whakarua Park

Transcript

… the Governor’s stand please. Panapana.

Kaea:  A ra ra! Ka panapana!

Katoa: A ha ha!

Kaea:  Ka rekareka tonu taku ngakau

Ki nga mana ririki i Pohatu-whakapiri.

Kia haramai te takitini, kia haramai te takimano,

Kia pare taitokotia ki Waiapu!

Katoa: Hi! Ha!

Kaea:  He mamae, he mamae!

Katoa: A ha ha!

Kaea:  Ka haere, ka haere taku pohiri

Ki te tai whakarunga!

Katoa: Hoki mai, hoki mai ki Waiapu!

Kaea:  Ka haere, ka haere taku pohiri

Ki te tai whakararo!

Katoa: Hoki mai, hoki mai ki Waiapu!

Katoa: Kia huri au ki te tai whakatu a Kupe,

Ki te tai o Matawhero i motu mai!

Katoa: E ko Hitara ki roto ki aku ringa,

Kutia rawatia kia pari tonu ihu!

Hi ha! Auahi ana! Kss! Kss! Hi!

 

Site editors notes:

  • The audio levels are low and 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: PAColl-8983-44
Date: 6 Oct 1943
Parents and aunt of Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, at the hui to mark the posthumours awarding of his Victoria Cross.

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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