Ohinemutu 1943: Major Henry Te Reiwhati Vercoe

Major Henry Te Reiwhati Vercoe from Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Tuara gives a speech of welcome to the Governor General Sir Cyril Newall on the ocassion of the opening of the house Tama te Kapua at Ohinemutu, Rotorua.

Major Vercoe served in the Tauranga Armed Rifle Volunteers, Seventh Contingent in the South African War and in the Pioneer Battalion of World War I.  His actions in war earned him the Imperial South African War Medal and the Queen’s South Africa Medal and he was Mentioned in Dispatches in WWI.  He was recommended for the Victoria Cross but did not receive it.  He tried to enlist with the 28th Maori Battalion but because he had falsified his age in 1901 for the South African War he was turned down as being too old. He was captain in the Rotorua Home Guard battalion, promoted to temporary Major in May 1942, and took command of the Matata Military Camp in February 1943. He became heavily involved in the Maori War Effort Organisation and was posted to the retired list on 28 April 1946 and awarded the New Zealand War Service Medal.

Major Vercoe's sons, Henry and William, and his nephew Edward Ruhi served with the 28th Maori Battalion.

Transcript

Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand and its dependency, 24th March 1943. 

May it please your Excellency, we the representatives of the Maori tribes of New Zealand assembled at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, greet you and her Excellency Lady Newall and bid you welcome.  Welcome to this sacred, humble courtyard of our people where Te Arawa stand guard over this heritage of our ancestors.  Honour us with your presence and bring you, with you the tapu of His Majesty the King, whose loyal and loving people we are proud to be.  Enter Your Excellency this marae, Te Papaiouru, to perform the official opening of our reconstructed house of assembly, named after our progenitor navigator Tama te Kapua, who traversed the ocean roads from Hawaiiki five centuries ago surmounting the perils of the deep-pitted sea of Tawhaki to found new hope for our people in this land.  Since the coming of the Pakeha, we have had to contend with many difficulties, in adapting ourselves to new ideas and a new way of life.  So our house of assembly, the contents of our marae and the form of the ceremonial reflects the external influences that have impugned upon us.  But we trust that the spirit of the Polynesian lingers in the welcome extended to her Excellency and yourself and in the significance of this gathering this meeting is being held in the midst of the most fateful war in human history.  Our King was pleased to call you from the youngest and most powerful arm of his fighting service to be his mouthpiece, his eyes and ears in this the most distant outpost of his Empire.  Bear witness then to the twofold determination of his Maori subjects to fight against his Majesty’s enemy and to strive for an honourable and honoured place among the people who owe him allegiance.  As his Majesty’s representative we salute you, and ask you to convey to him and to her Majesty the Queen, the loyal message which will now be handed to you.  God be with you and yours.