The Ngarimu Victoria Cross Investiture Meeting and Reception to His Excellency the Governor General, 6 October 1943.
On 4 June 1943 news was broadcast world-wide that 2/Lt Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the attack on Point 209 at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. It was the sixth VC to be awarded to a New Zealander in the war, and the first to a Maori soldier.
The public investiture ceremony where the Governor-General presented the award to Mr & Mrs Hamuera Ngarimu was held at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, Ngarimu’s home town. At the time it was one of the largest and most fully documented Māori gatherings ever held.[1] Despite the rain and mud, 7000 people attended the event, including the Prime Minister and other parliamentarians, Battalion members on furlough, Home Guardsmen and 1300 schoolchildren, who came from all parts of the country. Three hundred performers had been brought together from the Gisborne district alone. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, led by Sir Apirana Ngata hosted the event that featured five hours of entertainment. Members of the National Film Unit, the official Government photographer - John Pascoe, and the press documented the event. Cameramen from the US Marine Corps also headed to Ruatoria to record the event. Read more about the event here.
This recording was made on the morning of the investiture at Whakarua Park.
Transcript
Haka of welcome by women of Te Whanau-a-Apanui. Recording commences at line “Ka eke nei hoki kei te umauma, pakia!” After the first time through Sir AT Ngata states: We’re now at item 7 on your programmes. Item 7 in the Supplementary Programme book covered red. You will find the item they are doing is item 7a in the red booklet. Number 7a.
Kaea: Takatakahia! Takatakahia!
Turi whatia! Ka mate koe, oi!
Whakakau he tipua!
Katoa: Hi!
Kaea: Whakakau he taniwha!
Katoa: Hi!
Kaea: U nga iwi ki hea?
Katoa: U ki te Tairawhiti, pakia!
Kaea: Puhikura, puhikura, puhikaka, puhireia!
Katoa: Ka eke nei hoki kei te umauma, pakia!
Kaea: Kaore nei hoki e te tukituki kei taku manawa!
Katoa: A ha ha!
Kaea: Na teko, na teko te konunutanga
O tona pinanauhea meromero iti
I whiua ki te taha waitai takoto titaha
I whea ia ra o kupu te homai ai?
Katoa: Hei tuki ake mo taku poho!
Kaea: A i aha tera, e!
Katoa: I motu te puehu tukawa ka nana nei, kss!
Kaea: Karariwha nei!
Katoa: Kss!
Kaea: Ka tae ki Hanea nei!
Katoa: Me tuku ki te wai whinau.
Mai tona hua ka pango nei. Aue! Kss! Aue! Aue! Hi!
Haka pohiri repeated
Sir AT Ngata: Your Excellencies (inaudible) many of them here, you‘ll find that most of them are on the Native Development Schemes. But its no news to Ngati Porou, it might be to you, this crowd used to wipe the floor with our warriors in the old days, Whanau-a-Apanui. And it will be found at the end of this war when the awards are tallied up for the numbers they sent overseas the Whanau-a-Apanui gained more distinctions .than any other Maori tribe in New Zealand. Kia mohio ai nga iwi o te motu he iwi whuia paruparu tenei, engari i roto i tenei pakanga ko te nuinga o nga, o nga tohu mo to ratau tokoiti i runga i te Whanau-a-Apanui ―Victoia Cross, DCM, me era atu (? inaudible). Right.
Site editors notes:
- The audio levels are low and there is intermittent static throughout the audio
- A question mark (?) after a word indicates audio is inaudible
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43110. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
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