Officer cadets visit Maungarongo

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 22, 22 October 1985, Page 4

Officer cadets visit Maungarongo

Maungarongo Marae hosted 40 officer cadets and instructors from Waiouru Military Camp's Officer Cadet School on the weekend of 12 and 13 October. Chief instructor at the school, Major Sam Hollander, said that the marae visit was part of the cadets' studies in current affairs and social issues. Before the beginning of this year regular army officers trained in Australia. The change to New Zealand training has meant the introduction of the study of Maori culture, and the experiencing of marae life, which was not touched before. "We are training New Zealand army officers and we want them to know about this vital part of our culture," he said. Major Hollander said that officers might be faced with the death of a Maori soldier and be called upon to attend the tangi. "If they are in that position we want them to be familiar with the protocol of the marae and to be able to conduct themselves Correctly — and it is something they should know as New Zealanders anyway," he said. There are two officer cadet intakes a year, in January and July. The visiting group was the senior January intake, but all future

intakes would be undertaking a similar visit. Many of the officer cadets were apprehensive about the visit, being unfamiliar with the marae environment. "The Pakehas were nervous because they were not sure what was expected of them and the Maoris were apprehensive about how their mates would cope," said Major Hollander. Once they got into the warm marae atmosphere fears were soon forgotten and they quickly entered into the spirit of the place. At mid-afternoon on Saturday some played touchrugby, some joined in singing and dancing while others did some carpentry in the

new Kohanga Reo building. The cadets stayed at the marae on Saturday night and presented some of the songs which they had learned before their visit. On Sunday they attended a church service. Major Hollander said they had already been on Waiouru Marae, but that was a military marae for all New Zealand soldiers.

"Maungarongo Marae is different as it has a family atmosphere with its own special etiquette and customs, which is very valuable for us." Lieutenant-Colonel M. E. Dodson, commander of the Officer Cadet School, was to attend the marae weekend but family illness forced him . to pull out at the last moment.