Christmas messages from Māori patients in North Africa, 1942

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This recording taken in 1942 is of a group of Māori patients from No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital in North Africa. 

Nurse Wiki Katene of Porirua (Ngāti Toa)and a group of patients from the Māori Battalion sing “Tama Ngākau Mārie”.  Wiki introduces the young men who offer greetings in Māori to different iwi, hapū and localities.  Some of the voices are hard to decipher, but the following soldiers, all wounded during the Alamein Campaign, have been identified:

  • Wiremu Pohe, Ngapuhi - Whangarei
  • Ngaone Tahere, Kaikohe - Ngati Tautahi
  • (?), Te Arawa - Ngati Pikiao
  • Pena Hohepa, Matata
  • Pita Hodge, Ngati Whakaue - Ohinemutu
  • Te Irimana (Paul) Waenga, Te Whānau-a-Apanui
  • (?) McClutchie, Ngati Porou - Wharekahika
  • Barney Kapuaroa, Turanganui
  • Possibly Richard Hale:Hauraki - Harataunga (Kennedy Bay)
  • Unidentified possibly Wharau or Heremia Houkamau(?) sends greetings on behalf of himself and Tame Makarati (aka Huna McClutchie) - Wharekahika (Hicks Bay)
  • Tame (Thomas) Karena, Ngati Kahungunu - Wairoa, Heretaunga
  • Kopu Heremia, Ngati Raukawa - Ohau
  • Lt. Sgt. Hira Parata, Ngati Toa - Porirua, Whakarongotai - Waikanae
  • Cpl Ripene Matoe, Ngati Ruanui
  • Hami (Hamuera) Ngaheke, Ngati Pikiahu-Waewae - Kakariki, Tokorangi
Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 17321. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

Comments (2)

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these blasts from the past; so glad I'm going home for Christmas this year to be with my kaumatua and matua, Mauri Ora!