Te Hoko-Whitu

He mihi Arohanui kia korua, ki toku Tipuna ko Papa Wiremu raua toku Matua ko Matiu, haere atu ra ki ou Matua Tipuna, ki Hawaiikinui, Hawaiikiroa, Hawaiikipamamao......Tenei te mihi aroha kia korua!!! I am the mokopuna of my Papa "WIREMU (WIRIWIRI) HOKO" and am named after his son, my father,the late MATIU TE HOKOWHITU, who was named after Papa's father, my g.grandfather TE HOKOWHITU ..R.I.P - Dad and Papa. My Papa was almost 90yrs when he passed away in 2003 and he was a 28th Maori Battalion returned serviceman. As his mokopuna I am proud of this honour. I remember him sharing the war stories with my father as I was growing up, after we would visit with him in O-Tara, Tamaki-Makaurau. He and Dad would have a few beers, and then Papa would begin to sing and cry and role model some of the things that used to happen to him. He would stand up straight and begin to stamp his feet and march as he reflected on his life in the army. My father would just listen to him and prompt him to keep talking about his experience, but sometimes Papa would just shut himself away in his room, and I suppose because, too many bad memories would come floodng back of his mates who were lost in the war. I remember Papa saying he was a runner, under his officer Mr Dittmer, and he helped his battalion out by manouvering down a steep hill in Greece. I also remember him telling Dad and Mum that he had just got off the toilet once when a bomb hit it, he said someone was with him that day. Now that my Dad and Papa have both gone, I don't here the stories anymore, but my aunty gave my father Papa's medals and before I lost my father, he wore them with pride, during ANZAC. After I lost my Dad, my elder brother wore Papa's medals also with pride and next year I will wear them for my Papa, with the same pride, my father and my brother held. My brother now lives in Australia, so I guess it is now my turn. My father was also given a beautiful large photo of Papa in his uniform and it hangs alongside of his Army Certificates. My mum told me that our family used to have a photo of the 28th Maori Battalion Office Headquarters and Papa was sitting next to Ngarimu VC in the front row, but somehow it has been misplaced or it has been stolen by someone. Mum also shared that when the Te Hokowhitu Flag was taken to the Museum in Waiouru some years ago, she and Dad attended for Papa. At that time Dad found out that the Army records were wrong as they had Papa being deceased and yet he was still very much alive, but my Dad rectified it. I acknowledge my late Papa and Dad for this time, and I know that these reflections are a Taonga Tuku Iho. He Whakatauki tenei...Ka pu te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi - Cast the old net aside and let the new net come forth... "Tipuna - Mokopuna" Kua mutu taku korero i tenei waa - Kaati!!