Weekly Review 232 - Return of the Māori Battalion

National Film Unit, 1946

Transcript

♪ Waiata ♪

At Porirua the Māoris are preparing food . Food for the feast which will be part of the welcome to the Māori battalion.

Today in pās all over New Zealand similar preparations are being made for the return of men who have been absent too long from the marae.

♪ Waiata ♪

To the wāhine falls the task of cleaning kaimoana mussels, pipi, sea eggs, pāua. Porirua is famous for its shellfish and these delicacies will not be missing from the feast, to be held at in Wellington almost at the ship's side.

♪ Waiata ♪

As night falls the fires are lit for the biggest hāngī that has been built here for many years. There is much to be cooked and it's cooked in traditional style. When the ovens are open the food will be taken to the wok.

♪ Waiata ♪

With sacks on top to keep the steam in the food can be left to cook on its own but there will be more than food at the ceremony here on Aotea Quay, there will be music and hakas and speeches.

Emotions are welling up as the Dominion Monarch moves slowly to her berth at Pipitea wharf.

♪ Waiata ♪

For the Māori people this is the ship they've been waiting for.

♪ Waiata ♪

Down the gangway come men of the Māori battalion 780 men of the battalion that was volunteered two days after war began. They fought through Greece and Crete, in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia through Italy to Vieste. Their casualty rate was five in seven. In the words of their Commander: "they return not as conquering heroes, but as the remnant of a brave battalion."

Aotea quay is to be the marae for the ceremony in their honour and out to meet them goes Sergeant Don Ania [??] Te-Amaho , followed by two others to challenge them.

They come in peace... so the challenge is not accepted . And they move on to the Marae.

♫ Haka ♫

♪ Ā, tōia mai! (Te Waka!)♪

♪ Ki te urunga! (Te Waka!)♪

For the Māoris this is time of weeping as well as of joy. Those who will not return are not forgotten.

♪ Karanga ♪

Among the official guests is the acting Prime Minister: Mr. Nash, members of parliament, and former commanders of the battalion. Arrangements for this welcome were made by the Māori War Effort organization with the Māori people sharing the cost.

♪ Waiata ♪

Pois, hakas and speeches are part of the ceremony which included the intimate ritual of murutapu: the removal of a tapu placed upon the battalion before it left New Zealand.

The men were committed to the care of Tu the War God whose protection is now no longer asked.

♪ Waiata ♪

Following the ceremonies on the marae the men go to the dining room for the feast.

♪ Waiata ♪

For most of the men there are still journeys ahead of them before they reach their homes.

This is the pā at Kuku Ohau a small pā where the ceremonies have an added feature. In the burial ground there is a new memorial to the memory of one man who did not return. Unveiling the memorial is Bill Seymour it is in memory of his brother Jack who died of wounds received in Libya when his truck was hit by a shell.

A gander is feasting and the hāngī is opened.

♪ Waiata ♪

Inside the dining room double-decker tables are needed to hold all the food.

♪ Haerae mai (x 2) ra ♪

So it is in other pās each has its own ceremony. Here at Ngāruawāhia the arrival of the train bringing home the men is marked by little activity but their people are waiting for them on the marae.

Among those who attended the welcome here, and with other pās was the Minister of Defence: Mr. Jones.

♪ Haka ♪

♪ Waiata ♪

Men of the Māori battalion are home in the years to come their deeds will be told again and again so long as Māori blood endures.

♪ Waiata ♪
Re-use information

Creative Commons BY 2.0

Description

On 23 January 1946 the 28th (Māori) Battalion arrived in Wellington, after returning from service during World War Two. 780 troops were welcomed home with pōwhiri and waiata as they disembarked at Pipitea Wharf. This film follows the return of the soldiers to New Zealand and shows various communities preparing food and festivities at local marae.

Formed in 1940 as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), the Māori Battalion was attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division as an extra battalion that was moved between the division's three infantry brigades. The battalion fought during the Greek, North African and Italian campaigns, during which it earned a formidable reputation as a fighting force and became the most decorated New Zealand battalion during the war. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion contributed a contingent of personnel to serve in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, before being disbanded in January 1946.

This film featured in the 'Weekly Review' news series which ran from 1942 - 1950, produced by the National Film Unit (NFU). The NFU was established to publicise New Zealand's participation and achievements during the war. After 1945 the NFU expanded from producing weekly newsreels to making documentaries and films to the order of Government Departments. During its existence the NFU produced films for national organisations as well as many films on its own initiative. The private film industry in New Zealand relied heavily on the NFU's extensive film processing facilities.

This film may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The content reflects the attitudes or language of the period in which the records were created and does not reflect the views of Archives New Zealand.

Item details

Title: Weekly Review 232 - Return of the Māori Battalion
Creator: National Film Unit
Year: 1946
Length: 10:26

Archival reference details

Item ID: R22501528
Agency: AAOJ
Accession: W5034
Box/Item: 1179 /
Record number: A8021
Record type: Moving image

He whakatūpato kupu kiko

Content warning

He kōrero matatapu pea kei roto i ngā pūranga, ka whakapāmamae pea i te tangata. Ko ētahi pea o ngā kōrero, he mōhiohio, he reo manioro ka kīia ināianei he tawhito, ā, he mōrihariha hoki. Me tūpato i te wā e whakauru atu ana.

Archives can contain sensitive content that may be upsetting. Some items may include disturbing information and language now considered outdated and offensive. Take care when accessing them.