Farewell to Maori Battalion from Gisborne

An address by Mr Henare Ruru to the residents of Gisborne at a farewell for the Māori Battalion. Mr Ruru speaks in English, then Te Reo Māori. A group is then called on to perform two farewell haka. First a performance by women, then men. Then a performance of the haka, 'Ka Mate'. Station 2ZM announcer [and owner] Percy Stevens describes the scene and speaks to the men as they embark. One man, Matahaere Huriwai, records a short farewell message in Māori.

Transcript: (provided by www.28maoribattalion.org.nz)

Henare Ruru: Deputy Mayor, Colonel, tēnā koutou. Residents of Gisborne and the surrounding county, oh...

Announcer: He wasn’t speaking into the other microphone.

Henare Ruru: First, I will confess to you, my English is limited. I’m here this afternoon to fill in the gap, also, for the speaker Sir Āpirana Ngata, he’s away, he had to be called to Wellington. And I’m here to do my best to speak to you.

Residents of Gisborne and the surrounding district, it’s gratifying to see such a crowd, standing around, members of the Second Echelon and the Māori Battalion. It’s the only, part of our duty as a stay home Battalion to muster and say “haere ra” to these boys. A gathering such as this, sufficient for these boys to realise the job they’re going to tackle is important. They themselves is [are] important and the contract they’re going to attack is a very important one. By our presence here this afternoon, they would realise that – tēnā koutou. (Kia ora)

Members of the Second Echelon and the Māori Battalion. Today you stand at Peel Street, a section of the British Army. You are on active service, New Zealanders, New Zealand small in number. But they are attached to the British Army, they are attached to the Navy, they are attached to the Air Force, they are attached to the land force, they are attached to the Eastern and Western front. You here standing in Lowe Street are part of that army. Now boys, you’re going to do your job - we stay-homers have a mind with you. You’re trained for the job, you’re trained how to act as a soldier, you’re trained, your knowledge is trained and knowledge should be required as a soldier. But there are some aspects [that] belongs to you, and that is these: one is courage, one is determination – it’s in you, you’re born with it, grown with it. You wasn't teached with these two actions, belongs to you. And we’re proud that you’re leaving us to perform a duty laid down by those ‘Big heads’ a few years ago. England expects everyman will do his duty; you’re going to perform on that duty. That’s the duty that you’re going to perform today. You’re moving the youth and act on that duty. You’re going to act upon it. You shall do so because of the courage of every New Zealander, Māori and Pākehā, it’s in you, born with you. You are told right throughout New Zealand what the New Zealanders did in 1914 and 18. Today we know it’s a credit to us to New Zealanders Māori and Pākehā. Those boys returned decorated with a name called Anzac. Anzac was gained by deeds and by results in action. They were honoured and decorated with that name and you [are] asked today to equal that and you can. One of the points that you can is this, when you get over there, get hold of that naughty little boy Hitler, give him a jolly good hiding. When you achieve that, we shall gain our liberty, our freedom and peace. You'll do it for us we know you would.

Ladies and gentlemen, I think I’ve shouted enough. You know the balance of our minds, that is this: Tamariki Māori mā, haere, kia māia, kia toa. I akongia koutou ki te hōiatanga, i akongia koutou ki te tāwhai ngā waewae, ki te titiro ngā kanohi, ki te whātoro ngā ringaringa. Ko te māia, ko te toa kai roto i a koutou i heke iho i o koutou tipuna. Kāore tēnā e taea te ako ki a koutou, kei roto tonu hoki i a koutou. Ko te hōiatanga, ko te ahatanga, ko te ‘left right left right’ ka akongia koutou. Kia ora koutou, haere. Whakatipungia he ingoa mo tātou, mo o koutou whakatipuranga, a muri ake nei.

God speed and a safe return. Good luck to you.

Taku pao kia koutou, taku pao kia koutou, kai ngā tamariki wāhine nei.

(Words for supporting song: Te ope tuatahi)

E te ope tuatahi
No Aotearoa
No Te Waipounamu
No nga tai e wha
Ko koutou ena
E nga rau e rima
Ko te Hokowhitu toa
A Tumatauenga
I hinga ki Ihipa
Ki Karipori ra ia
E ngau nei te aroha
Me te mamae

E te ope tuarua
No Mahaki rawa
Na Hauiti koe
Na Porourangi
I haere ai Henare
Me to Wiwi
I patu ki te pakanga
Ki Paranihi ra ia
Ko wai he morehu
Hei kawe kōrero
Ki te iwi e
E taukuri nei

E te ope tuaiwa
No Te Arawa
No Te Tairawhiti
No Kahungunu
E haere ana ‘hau
Ki runga o Wiwi
Ki reira ‘hau nei
E tangi ai
Me mihi kau atu
I te nuku o te whenua
Hei konei ra e
E te tau pumau