Kaikohe

Speaker Hauraki Peneha welcomes the troops to Te Kotahitanga Marae in Kaikohe.

We have little other information about this respected kaumātua, except that he was from Peria (east of Kaitaia.). We would be grateful to hear from anyone able to supply any further information.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Hauraki Peneha

A kaumātua speaks on behalf of the returned soldiers.

Previously identified as Ripi Wihongi we have been able to ascertain from his whānau that by 1946, at the age of 86 Wihongi was frail and blind. It is very unlikely that the speaker is Wihongi, if you are able to identify the voice we would be very interested to hear from you.

Ripi Wihongi enlisted for the Boer War but the war had finished by the time they arrived in South Africa. He went on to attend the coronation of King Edward VII in June 1902 as part of the “colonial troop”. Wihongi was a prominent member of the Kaikohe district with major interests in raising awareness to land alienation and other land loss especially in Ngāwhā and Kororipo. His direct actions put a stop to the draining of the huge resource provided by Lake Ōmāpere having it deemed Māori Land through the Land Court.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: unknown

Tiopira Heiwari speaks on behalf of Te Rarawa. As a descendant of Te Morenga, he was considered a leading kaumatua of Te Rarawa.

Heiwari was a staunch supporter of the war efforts and many of his whanaunga went to both World Wars.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Tiopira Heiwari

As one of the senior kaumātua at the pōwhiri, Wiki speaks on behalf of Te Aupōuri. His younger brother Whakaruru fell at Belgium during World War One and his son Meinata served with the 28th Māori Battalion.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Rapata Wiki

Haupapa Paikea speaks to the troops at Te Kotahitanga Mārae.

We have little other information about this respected kaumātua, except that he was from the Batley (Maungaturoto) area. We would be grateful to hear from anyone able to supply any further information.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Haupapa Paikea

Ihaka Poata was an acknowledged orator and scholar of northern Māori philosophy and lore.

He was a tohunga of whakapapa and karakia. His marriage to Eunice Mare enhanced his standing in the Ahipara community and lead to his role as one of the senior kaikōrero of the north.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Ihaka Poata

Kaumatua Matiu Witana served with Te Hokowhitu ā Tū, the New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion, during World War One. Here speaks on behalf of the RSA.

Matiu alongside his older brothers Aperahama and Wiremu joined the war effort with the NZEF 18th Reinforcements in 1916. When they went to enrol they found that Aperahama had already joined! They discovered that their younger brother Tame, had used his identity and enlisted. Sadly the story did not end well for Tame who lost his life in France in 1917. Matiu maintained his links with those who returned and was considered a gentle giant by his peers, colleagues and kaumātua who called him Lofty.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Matiu Witana

In this excerpt Tai Tokerau leader, Whina Cooper, makes a forceful appeal for the men still imprisoned to be freed, reminding the gathering that the soldiers were volunteers. She also calls for official forms to be written in te reo so Māori can understand them better and fill them out correctly. Her kōrero is translated by Colonel James Paumea Ferris, M.B.E., a WWI Māori Contingent veteran and administrator with the Māori Battalion during World War II.

Cooper was an influential leader, involved in iwi and national politics. She took a leading role in church and community activities and was the first president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. She excelled in business and in the farming ventures she undertook with her first husband Richard Gilbert of Ngāti Wai and her second husband William Turakiuta Cooper of Ngāti Kahungunu. She would eventually be known as Te Whaea o te Motu.

Collection reference 5443
Year 1946
Credits Speaker: Whina Cooper, Interpreter: Col. James Paumea Ferris