Maori -Army blend in honours board

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 322, 6 February 1990, Page 5

Maori -Army blend in honours board

An impressive honours board was presented to the Officer Cadet School at ATG recently.

The Maori carving honours board is now mounted proudly in the foyer of the Officer Cadet School Headquarters. According to an OCS spokesperson he said that the honours board was the result of nearly five years of planning and preparation instigated by the then Commandant of OCS, Lt Col Hughes, Training Officer Capt Kevin Herewini and OCS RSM WOl Davies. However the spokesperson said he doubted if the actual carving took five years

to complete. The dedication cere-

mony whicti took place late last month saw the senior class of Officer Cadet men formally welcome the Ngarimu family and members of the famous 28th Maori

Battalion with a traditional Maori welcome which was led by Officer Cadet Wirihana. The Ngarimu family and members of the 28th Maori Battalion

were among the distinguished guests. The central figure at the apex of the honours board is in honour of 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu who served with the 28th Maori Battalion in the Second World War and was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for acts of courage with disregard to his own life. The carving at the Officer Cadet school is called Te Kupenga A Tu and it welcomes the officer cadet on the journey to graduation. The central figure in the carving symbolises hard work, courage, discipline and determination to strive for and attain leadership required by the officer. Each individual section of the carving represents and records the training requirement of officers to achieve the aims and objectives of the year long course. The sections also reflect the stages of basic soldier skills in combination with intensive academic and leadership training. It also represents individuals and collective responsibility and commitment to achieve officerships of the

highest standard and it recognises all those who have fallen, through the Kowhaiwhau pattem of mangopare and the cross of resurrection. The dedication ceremony was conducted by Army chaplin Padre Ken Baker and canon Huata

and was conducted in both English and Maori. The carving will honour the names of the top officer cadets who will pass through the officer cadet school and heralds the beginnings of their chosen profession.