Rā whānau
A birthday salute to our most humble kaumātua o Ngāi Tahu, known to us as Papa Ku. This is just a small token of our appreciation of who you are and as a rōpū we hold you in high esteem. Happy 80th birthday Papa Ku. Aroha nui Ngāi Tahu Whānui ki Tāmaki Makaurau. Kukupa Harakore Tirikatene celebrated his 80th birthday ever so quietly, with just himself and his lovely wife Heather. He was born 8 March 1934.
Papa Ku celebrates a birthday.
An Italian war pilgrimage
Brian How (Ngāi Tahu – Irakehu), president of the 28th NZ (Māori) Battalion Auckland Association 1959 Inc will join a group of eight other Kiwis from around Auckland from 5-26 May, to follow the WWII footsteps of the 28 Māori Battalion in Italy.
Along with his wife Susan (Maniapoto), Brian will be joined by Karanga Mitchell (Ngāti Porou, widow of Karauria Mitchell), Karen and Joe Tuki-Shelford (Ngāti Porou/Ngāpuhi), Tex Chapman, Yvonne Buchannan (Ngāpuhi), Ron Baker (Ngāti Porou) and Gary Russell (Italy Star Assn).
The group will be visiting battle fields and urupā (cemeteries) where the Māori Battalion fought and where some were buried. They plan to visit as many urupā as possible to pay respect to the men left there, to say a karakia (prayer) and sing waiata for all of them.
The group are well aware that many people cannot make this pilgrimage and they wish to go on behalf of those who cannot make the journey. They are offering to lay a poppy and a Māori Battalion badge on all of the Māori Battalion graves that they visit, to honour as many as possible. Visits will also include service personnel, who may be from other units or services from WWII.
If anyone would like to tell their story, or have the group visit whānau or friends buried in Italy, take photos of their Māori Battalion veteran, please let us know. The tour will cover Tavarnelle, Florence, Venice, Trieste, Udine, Faenza, Forli, Rimini, Lake Tresimino, Cassino, Ortona, Sangro River and Orsogna.
The main focus of the tour is the 70th Anniversary of the fall of the Monastery and the town of Cassino on 17 May 1944.
Kanohi – Cassino
On February 17-18 1944, the 28th Māori Battalion suffered heavy casualties when they captured the Cassino railway station. But when supporting tanks were unable to get through, they were forced to withdraw under heavy fire as the German tanks rolled in. A and B Companies suffered terrible losses, with 128 out of 200 men killed, wounded or captured. After another unsuccessful attack in March, which saw desperate close-range fighting in the ruins of the town, the New Zealanders were withdrawn in early April. Cassino eventually fell to Polish troops on 17 May 1944.
In 1959, the WWII veterans of the Māori Battalion formed an incorporated society to support themselves as a group and with the passing of many veterans, the association came together to try and help the younger generations to remember the sacrifices made by these men, their wives and families. Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou – We will remember them
We wish our Auckland group safe travels and time to reflect on how our whānau gave their lives and how we have continued to stay connected. May this journey be rewarding for them as they go and may the learning of our younger generation be a captivating experience for them and all those who stand in that place for that time of remembrance. Kei wareware tātou – Lest we forget.
Brian How descends from Kapumakorahi to Tuhiautahi to Aramainana (in the Blue Book) to Kura Heke who married Aylmer Kenny; to Pirihira Huruata Nora Kenny, who married George Horatio How; to George Carrod How, who married Violet Edith Reynolds. Brian Anthony How has eight siblings. He is also assistant secretary of Ngāi Tahu Whānui ki Tāmaki Makaurau Inc.
The city of Cassino today.
The WW II Battlefields in Cassino.
The ruins of Monte-Cassino, Italy.
Visiting the urupā in Cassino.