Returning soldiers at Pipitea Wharf

Some of the 'Hawea' furlough draft who returned with Lieutenant-Colonel Awatere, photographed at Pipitea Wharf, Wellington, on 6 September 1945. Front row, left to right: ?, ?, Corporal Nigger Karauria, ?, ?, ?, Sergeant Bob Maru, George Pahau, ?, ?, ?, Lieutenant Rua Kaika (holding drill stick), ?, Lieutenant Hiki Kohere, Paki Johnson, Sgt Jape Paringatai, Ralph Tako, Joss Penfold, ?. Back row, left to right: ?, ? obscured, ? (waving), Epineha Ratapu, Sgt Charlie Mohi, Sgt Ian Kohere, ?, ?. Awatere and 45 other ranks of the 6th and 7th Reinforcements, plus some repatriated prisoners of war, took the train to Hastings and spent the night at Pakipaki before continuing on to Gisborne.