MAORI WARRIORS RETURN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 39, 30 January 1946, Page 5

MAORI WARRIORS RETURN

POIGNANT SCENES AT POROPORO A PICTURESQUE HOME-COMING EIGHTY MEMBERS WELCOMED The marae of the Poroporo Pa was crowded with representatives of the Ngatiawa and Ngatipukeko subtribes of the Matatua confederation last Friday evening when some 80 members of the returning Maori Battalion were welcomed home with all the picturesque pageantry of .the uaditionnl Maori custom and ceremony. The local chief, Te Keep a Tawliio, was in charge of the gathering together with numerous other tribal dignitories, and leaders.

The coining of the Maori warriors to their homes at long last after years of absence has been the cause ■of numerous poignant ceremonials Throughout tiie Bay of Plenty, and the group attending the Poroporo festivities contained men from Wai,miana, Ruatoki and far down the East Coast. On tliMr way through frem Rotorua they were feted at Lake Rotoiti and at Te Teko where 9 •the usual honours were, tendered and where the necessary ceremonial indeluding the deep reverance of the dead was re-enacted, at each place, •before 'the men were entertained to -the ‘hui’ which in every instance

was a sumptions one. Friday’s gathering drew many Pakehas to the Pa, including Mr W. Sullivan M.P. and Mrs Sullivan, members of. local bodies and the principals of the adjacent Native Schools. The men were met at the corner of the main road, by members of the v Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band and were piped to the Marae where the expectant crowd stood in readiness to .filllit the first and paramount duty to the memory of those who had fallen. This was heralded by a soft '.vailing by the black-clad bereaved mourners who •stood at the entrance of the carved Whare Puni where the photographs of those killed in action were in prominent display. The men stood in silence with bowed heads as the grief-stricken cries rose in volume , and tears began to How without restriction. F6r fully ten minutes the. tribute to the departed was rising and falling in .crescendo as some of the more emotional were carried away Avith their feelings and extended their hands towards the newcomers in genuine .■despair. During the Avhole of this time it was noteworthy that no one broke ranks. Even though the absence of long weary years interven.~ed, mothers, wives, sweethearts and .sisters wilted patiently until the long speeches and ceremonials were fully completed before permitting themselves to greet their returning warriors with affectionate, show of endearment.

A sprightly group of young women with green garlands and leaves in their hands entered the marac and presented a lively song of welcome after which the knarled old figure of ninety year old Haturaka Merito % straight as a ram-rod, advanced towards the khaki-clad, group in the centre with the well known cries of “Hacremai, Haeremai, Haeremai.” His long oration in Maori occupied considerable time. Mr Aug,ust Kingi lead the tribal chant of ■welcome after which the Master of * * # ■ Ceremonies, Mr Albert Stewart invited Mr W. Sullivan M.P. to speak.

“I am delighted to be with you, and to see. you all safely home again,” said Mr Sullivan, who went on to say that New Zealanders had heard with growing pride the deeqls ,of the Maori Battalion oversea.*}. Their deeds he said, would never be forgotten as far 1 as the history of the recent war was concerned. He knew that the Battalion had paid dearly in the penu.*„. -v;. its prowess; and. the Government recognising this was prepared to ,do everything possible for 1 them by way of rehabilitation. He trusted they would

have a royal welcome and in returning to civilian life become happy contented and useful citizens !

Responding, Major ill. Vcrcoe said that the men present could be described as the remnants of the Maori effort during the war. It might not be a spectacular remnant, but it represented in every man present, the life-long respect which the Maori Battalion had won for the race. They were the younger brothers of the men who had written history and

Avho on the main were no longer Avitli them. The young irten there today had had the proud privilege of bringing to finality thy efforts of their brothers who had first A7olunteered l'or service in the war. He thanked Mr Sullivan for his remarks on behalf of the Pakeha community and added that he hoped the liappy understanding noAV existing bctvveen Maori and Pakeha Avould continue to grow as the Dominion progressed in the future. Lieut. K. Wahaj-' ponga also spoke. The returning men then lined up and in single hie shook hands with all present. They Avere then the guests to an ample dinner in the. social hall Avhcre the tables groaned under the weight of the dainties provided and popular Maori dishes which possibly the men had not tasted for years.