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Recorded at Te Tira Hou Marae in Panmure, Auckland, on 4 April 1975 with ex-servicemen of 'B' Company, of the 28 Māori Battalion. Some 2,900 ex-servicemen and their wives were brought together for the veterans' 10th reunion over Easter 1975.
The event included a march to the cenotaph where a wreath was laid to honour the dead. Traditionally, the annual re-union of B Company has been held in the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, and Hauraki districts. The organiser for the reunion, Captain Matarehua Monty Wikiriwhi of Te Arawa, states that this is the first time such a reunion has been held outside their tribal area; normally they are held at Rotorua, Whakatane or Hauraki.
Hori Mataiawhea Tait of Tūhoe and Te Arawa tribes translates the meaning of Tumatauenga - the god of man and the god of war. The god symbolised the drives, the spirits and the achievements of man. In traditional times, each tribe had its own war party described as Te Hokowhitu-a-Tū, literally the god of 'war's twenty times seven' being the number of Tumatauenga's warriors. Each Te Hokowhitu-a-Tū acknowledged the authority of its own chief. The marae, the space in the front of the meeting house, symbolises the courtyard of Tumatauenga. It was here that differences and disagreements were given voice. In this setting, consensus was more important than time. The word Tū, the abbreviated form of Tumatauenga, means to stand. On the marae, on the battlefields, i te hinengaro tonu o te tangata, the warrior spirit was ever present. Te Tira Hou Marae brought together ex-servicemen of 'B' Company of the Māori Battalion for the veteran's tenth reunion over Easter.
Some 2000 ex-servicemen and their wives received a traditional welcome to Te Tira Hou Marae. The organiser for the reunion, Captain Matarehua Monty Wikiriwhi of Te Arawa, states that this is the first time such a reunion has been held outside of their tribal area. Normally they are held at Rotorua, Whakatane or Hauraki. He also states that Brigadier Dittmer - its first commanding officer - was very much loved by his troops. The respective officers soon moulded them into an excellent fighting force, who it is known, were second to none. Brigadier Dittmer recalled his most difficult task as being the restraining of his men and his fears of the unnecessary loss of life. Some of his precious moments being the closeness of the men with each other and with their folk at home. Christmas time was always a joy - the preparation of the hangi. Haare Williams also had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Dittmer, who spoke of her love for the men of the Battalion and the Māori people as a whole. Remember! They all remember. Monty Wikiriwhi speaks of the kerosene tins of titi sent over and how they had more than their share of kai. Speaking of the killing of pigs, it was the Pākehā who did this. They were terrible people. The Māori in turn stole them from the Pākehā.
Rowley Habib reads his poem, 'The raw men'.
On Easter Sunday the ex-servicemen marched through the main street of Panmure to the Cenotaph in front of the R.S.A. The march was led by Brigadier Dittmer and Captain Wikiriwhi. After placing a wreath, Brigadier Dittmer asked that the dead, bereaved and wounded be remembered. E kore ratau e tai koroheketia, ka mau mahara tonu tatau ki a ratau.
The music of Glen Miller - the tune,' In the mood', popularised during the war completes the programme.