Media library

Audio

<p><strong>Representatives of the Māori Battalion were received on board the HMS <em>Maori</em> as guests of the commander and his men. Māori achievements in Greece, Crete and Libya were marked by the presentation of the HMS <em>Maori's</em> ensign complete with the ship's talisman - a tiki.&nbsp; Māori Battalion members present include Major&nbsp;Tiwi Love, Major Doug Harvey, Lieutenants’ Piiti Wordley, Taipa. Privates’ Aubrey Rota, Ropiha Korau, Edwards [?], Barrett [?], Rangi [?], Wharerau, Kurepo [?], Kelly Hawira, Tuhimareikura Manawaroa, Pene, Johnson, Hau, Robinson [?], Paraini [?]</strong>, <strong>Katae, Te Kani, Te Tana, Warbrick and Hoia [?]</strong><br /><br /><strong>Major Rangi Royal thanks the hosts for the honour and&nbsp;his speech ends with a performance by the Battalion party of the famous haka “Ka mate”. </strong><br /><br /><strong>Major Rangi Royal: </strong>Commander Jonas, the Ships Company, ladies, members of the medical staff of No. 3 Annex General hospital, officers, and NCOs and other ranks of the Māori Battalion.&nbsp; I would ask your indulgence just for a few minutes.&nbsp; On occasions like this we have a custom we must observe and I intend at this stage to say just a few words to your good ship.<br /><br />Te waka e tau nei e, tēnā koe.&nbsp; Tēnā koe kua whakawahia nei ki te ingoa e mau nei hei ingoa o te iwi Māori.&nbsp; Tēnā koe i puta mai i te mura o te ahi, a, e tau nei.&nbsp; Mā Tangaroa koe e manaaki. Mā te Atua koutou katoa e manaaki.&nbsp; Te Moananui a Kiwa e takoto nei, tēnā koe.&nbsp; Tēnā koe e manaaki haere nei i te ingoa o to iwi.&nbsp; Nāu e manaaki, a, tae noa te tutukitanga o tēnei pakanga, tēnā koe. &nbsp;<br /><br />Commander Jonas I think this is really an occasion of historical interest.&nbsp; When the Māori khaki clad meets the Māori iron clad.&nbsp; They meet today and the khaki clad is welcomed by the iron clad as your hospitality has shown today.&nbsp; We are indeed very much honoured by your invitation and I say as representative of the race, that the race is honoured also by the fact that one of its most noted destroyers bears the name of the race.&nbsp; We hope that the hosts of Tangaroa will always attend you, that Kiwa who commands the great oceans will always smile upon you and that God Almighty will guide and protect you and all of us so that we may attain that goal the world desires - victory, peace and joy for all.&nbsp; I thank you.<br /><br /><strong>28th Māori Battalion members:</strong><br />Ka mate, ka mate! Ka ora ka ora!<br />Ka mate, ka mate! Ka ora ka ora<br />!Tēnei te tangata puhuruhuru nānā i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra<br />Ā hupane, a hupane, a hupane kaupane whiti te ra</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p><strong>Photo:&nbsp; </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Maori_%28F24%29.jpg">Destroyer HMS Maori (F24) underway, coastal waters</a>.<br /><strong>Date:</strong> 18 March 1939<br /><strong>Source</strong>:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/">Imperial War Museums</a>, FL 15085 (collection no. 8308-29[1]) &nbsp; <br /><strong>Author</strong>: Royal Navy official photographer</p>

<p>Captain Pine Taiapa of Ngati Porou, coach of the <a href="/node/4131" target="_blank">Māori Battalion rugby team</a>, speaks in Maori after the team's&nbsp;victory in the Freyberg Cup final against Divisional Signals in Egypt on 14th February 1943.</p><p>Site administrators note: there is static throughout the sound file.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p>Image from Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust.</p>

<p>Lieutenant Sydney (Bully) Jackson, captain of the <a href="/node/4131" target="_blank">Māori Battalion rugby team</a>, speaks after their victory in the Freyberg Cup final against the Divisional Signals in Egypt on 14th February 1943.</p><p>Site administrators note: there is static throughout sound file.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?recor…;. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p><p>Image from Sydney (Bully) Jackson collection.&nbsp; Courtesy of Gary Jackson.&nbsp; No reproduction without permission.</p>

<p>The Māori Battalion with the 2NZEF recorded a Christmas programme from the Middle East on 15 October 1942.&nbsp;</p><p>The speech is first given in Māori and can be heard <a href="/node/14799" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; The orator has not been identified but could be Chaplain Captain Tunoa Wanoa or Chaplain Captain Wharetini Rangi.</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p>To our Maori people of the many tribes and to our remaining chiefs and leaders in Aotearoa and Waipounamu, greetings of love to you all.&nbsp; Having in remembrance those of us who have made the supreme sacrifice in this war of the god Tumatauenga and those of our kith and kin who have passed away.&nbsp; This is the Maori Battalion calling, calling loved ones at home, our parents, brothers and sisters, especially our mothers whom we have in our thoughts night and day.&nbsp; Mother you are my inspiration and my hero.&nbsp; To our wives and children a special message of faith, hope and charity, praying always for your perseverance in constancy and love.&nbsp; Sir Apirana, the honourable Paikea and other Maori leaders in the house - greetings to you all.&nbsp; We have faith in you for the future, and our innermost souls in us, long and yearn for home.&nbsp; To Colonel Bertrand and officers and men of the second Maori Battalion we send you Christmas greetings of aroha, remembering Colonel Love, his brother officers and men who have made the supreme sacrifice.&nbsp; To our father in god the bishop of Aotearoa we send to you all and the churches at home our Christmas greetings with thankful hearts for your affairs both of the Pakehas and the Maoris, for the throne of grace, for our blessing and for our preservation.&nbsp; A Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>The Māori Battalion with the 2NZEF recorded a Christmas programme from the Middle East on 15 October 1942.&nbsp;</p><p>This speech is in Māori and the orator has not been identified but could be Chaplain Captain Tunoa Wanoa or Chaplain Captain Wharetini Rangi.</p><p>The speech is then repeated in English, listen to it <a href="/node/14800" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p>Taku manawa e kakapa nei, e kakapa ana ki te whetu ki te marama ka taka kei te rua.&nbsp; Katahi au ka kite i te he katahi au ka kite i te mate.&nbsp; Mo taku tau kahurangi tena ka riro kei Paerau kei te huinga o te kahurangi e, ka oti atu e.</p><p>Ki nga iwi ki nga hapu, ki nga morehu rangatira e noho mai na i te wa kainga.&nbsp; Tena koutou katoa i roto i te arohanui mo tatou aitua i hinga atu i konei i a Tumatuaenga me o tatou aitua taratara a whare i hinga mai i te kainga na.&nbsp; Ko Te Hokowhitu a Tu tenei e mihi atu nei, e tangi atu nei, ki o matou matua, ki o matou whaea. &nbsp;E kui ma ko koutou nga mea kaore e warewaretia ana i te ao i te po.&nbsp; Kia koutou te arohanui rawa o matou me o matou hoa kua hinga atu nei i te pae o te riri.&nbsp; Tena koe e te ukaipo.&nbsp; A matou wahine, a matou tamariki, me nga mea hoki kua pania, mokai ma kei roto koutou i o matou whakaaro i nga wa katoa.&nbsp; I runga i te whakapono, i te tumanako, i te aroha. &nbsp;Kia mau ki te aroha, kia manawanui.</p><p>E te matua e Ta Apirana Ngata – tena koutou ko ou hoa, ko ou tamariki.&nbsp; Paikea ma, kei te whakamau atu nga whakaaro kei a koutou mo nga ahuatanga mo matou.&nbsp; Te wairua ia kei roto ia matou e koingo atu ana, e tangi atu ana ki te wa kainga na.&nbsp; Kia Colonel Bertrand me ou apiha me to whanau Te Ope Tuarua a Tu.&nbsp; E hoa ma, tena koutou katoa i roto i te aroha mo Colonel Love, me ona hoa, me ona tamariki kua mate i te mate o te toa, i te mate hoki a te rangatira.&nbsp; E pa e te Pihopa o Aotearoa – tena koutou katoa a te iwi me nga hahi i roto i tera whanau a tatou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti.&nbsp; He ngakau whakawhetai te mea nui kia matou mo nga inoi maha a te iwi Maori me te iwi Pakeha e piki ana ki te rangi ki te toro o nga o nga tapaengia katoa mo matou e tiakina, mo matou te manaaki.&nbsp; Tenei, kia ora koutou katoa.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>The Māori Battalion with the 2NZEF recorded a Christmas programme from the Middle East on 15 October 1942.&nbsp;</p><p>This song “Haere mai Tūhourangi” was sung for the occasion by members of the Māori Battalion.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>The Māori Battalion with the 2NZEF recorded a Christmas programme from the Middle East on 15 October 1942.&nbsp;</p><p>This is part of the hymn “Au, e Ihu” sung for the occasion by members of the Māori Battalion.</p><p>Au, e Ihu, tirohia <br />Arohaina iho rā <br />Whakaaetia ake āu <br />Ki tōu uma piri ai <br />I te wā e awhi ai <br />Ēnei ngaru kino nei <br />I te wā e keri ai <br />Enei āwhā kaha mai<br />Āmine</p>

<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Peter Awatere was the Commander of C Company when they were given the task of taking Point 209. Sir Charles Bennett, Commanding Officer of the 28th Māori Battalion describes the qualities of Peter Awatere and his particular style of commanding C Company.</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p>C Company under then Major Awatere who later in Italy became Colonel Awatere and became Commanding Officer of the Battalion in Italy. A very brave, courageous fighting man Peter Awatere, one of the best soldiers that the Māori Battalion produced. He was the Company Commander and I remember to this day, Peter Awatere and the way he commanded his Company.</p><p>The plan of attack for the Company of course was his concern, the Company Commander's concern, it had nothing to do with the Commanding Officer so I left it entirely to him. But he controlled almost like a parade ground manoeuvre. He had a whistle, and he had 3 platoons forward, all 3 platoons of the Company forward and when he blew one blast on the whistle this platoon would move 20 or so yards, 2 blast the middle one, 3 blast... and that's how he, not zig zagged, but that's how he made his way up this hill.</p>

<p><strong>Sound file - </strong>Extracts from Interview with Sir Charles Bennett, interviewer Jim Sullivan, recorded 31 March and 1 April 1993, commissioned by the Ministry of External Relations.<br />From the Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHColl-0217-1.&nbsp; All rights reserved. Permission of the Library and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file.</p><p><strong>Image<br /></strong>Detail of <a href="/node/3910">Officers at Katerini</a><br /><a href="https://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz/">Alexander Turnbull Library</a><br />Reference: DA-14231<br /> Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.<strong><br /></strong></p>

<p>Canon Wi Huata talks about being a padre in Italy and his friend Henry Northcroft who was an officer in B Company. He describes how he divided his time between the different sections of the Battalion.</p><h2>Transcript (edited)</h2><p>I got there the end of the desert campaign, so I was mainly
a padre for Italy.  That was my role.  And then after working and talking... oh we
were meeting every day after training, we'd get together in the evening.  It seemed to be we were having fellowship all
the time when we were in Maadi.  Then
came the march ... we had to march a hundred miles from Cairo
to Alexandria
by night.  Then we set sail for Italy.  We arrived in a place called the Port of Taranto, and Henry [Northcroft] of
course he was an Officer in the Arawa and Tūhoe, B Company they call it.  Henry was quite active in helping out, taking
prayers with his troops.  And the way I
took prayers for them I had my programme set Monday for A, Tuesday for B,
Wednesday C, D Thursday, Friday Headquarters, Saturday Battalion Headquarters
and Sunday Battalion.</p>

<p>That's in peace and war.</p>

<p>Extract from Interview with Canon Wiremu Huata, interviewer Margaret Northcroft, recorded 25 June 1991. </p>
<p>From the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHColl-0291-1. All rights reserved. Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p>

<p>Canon Wi Huata talks about the farewell at the boat as the Battalion left Wellington, life on board, being the only Anglican priest and giving communion to hundreds of soldiers.</p><h2>Transcript (edited)</h2><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

Normal
0

false
false
false

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object
classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->

<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->

</p><p>One, when
they farewell you, very very touching.  The
one that will stand out to all soldiers will be his mother.  Because 80% of the Māori Battalion were
single.  So, and that's the scene when we
left.  So you get onto the boat.  And by the way when you get onto the boat I
was the only Anglican Priest so I was in charge of all the Anglicans, for the
boat, not only the Māori Battalion because being the only Anglican.  There were several of us, got on the boat and
then and this stays in you because actually you're going away to die.  You look back, I can remember fellas singing
and we're just looking at Wellington.
Tears coming down our eyes and we were leaving home, thinking of our mothers.  Because I was asked the question why the
mothers, I think because 80% of us were single. 
That's the only person that came to us. 
Nevertheless ... life on the boat, because one I'm a padre.  The rule of the boat for the Māori Battalion
was church parade every morning, every morning. 
I think we were the only division on the boat who had a regular programme.  We had it every morning and every
evening.  I think the rest of the padres
they had theirs the other way - whoever wants to come. I said no it's a rule I've introduced. 
Everything went ahead sports and boxing. 
But everlasting thinking of home. 
I think that goes for the Pakeha as well.  I used to take the communion.  I used to start the communion at 3am and then
go 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  I can remember
knocking off at 8.  After 8 o'clock &quot;I'd
say look I'm hungry now we go for breakfast&quot; and we'd come back and start
again.  In order to cope with the people,
oh hundreds, you know I think because the background everybody wants it.  I'd been responsible for that.  Strange too, one thing about the war you
become very strong within your own religion, I noticed this with the pākehā...</p>

 <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Extract from Interview with Canon Wiremu Huata, interviewer Margaret Northcroft, recorded 25 June 1991. </p>
<p>From the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHColl-0291-1. All rights reserved. Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p>

<p>From an interview between Maiki Parkinson (<a href="/2199">Jules Vern Parkinson</a>, 67603) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Maiki
Parkinson,
Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki talks about getting barrels of muttonbirds and how others thought the Māori must have been starving to want to eat them. </p><p>See <a href="/node/4026">image of Muttonbird barrels here</a>. </p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Jerome (Maiki or Jules) Parkinson (1924-2006), interviewed by Megan Hutching, 23 March
2004, for the <em>Second World War oral
history project - North Africa</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0798-12.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file. </p><p>Image: Maiki Parkinson. </p></div></div>

<p>The Battalion sings <em>E ngā hoia e </em>(We are the soldiers!)</p>

<p>Track two [disc two] from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p><p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>