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Thursday, April 23, 2026
ANZAC DAY Special
Anzac Day, A time for all of us to remember
“Anzac Day is a time to think of every regiment, every soldier, every war, and the conflicts still unfolding in our world today.”
Kem Ormond
W
hile we are often reminded of the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers in WWI and WWII, we must also think of the many others whose contributions are sometimes overlooked. The animals that played vital roles on the front lines, the families who carried on at home despite fear and uncertainty, and the Vietnam veterans who faced a completely different kind of war. We must remember the nurses, doctors, and orderlies who tended to the wounded under unimaginable pressure. And we need to take time out to remember the Māori Battalion, those men renowned not only for their courage but also for their beautiful singing voices, who were so often assigned to dig trenches and build roads, yet proved themselves exceptional soldiers in their own right.
The Māori Battalion (WW1 & WW11) WW1
The Māori (Pioneer) Battalion (1915–1919) was a specialised unit in WWI, initially serving at Gallipoli before reforming as a pioneer force on the Western Front. Over 2,200 Māori and Pacific Islanders served, tasked with digging trenches, building roads, and performing crucial labouring, while facing high casualty rates of roughly 336 deaths and 734 wounded. Originally formed as the Māori Contingent in 1915, it was reorganised in 1916 as the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion. They were known as “Diggers” or the “Digging Battalion” for their essential support roles, though they also fought in combat. The Battalion served at Gallipoli, and on the Western Front, including the Somme (1916), Messines (1917), and Passchendaele (1917) It was certainly not without its challenges: In 1917, conscription brought resistance from some iwi (tribes) due to historical land confiscations. Members received numerous honours, including 38 Military Medals, four Distinguished Conduct Medals, and nine Military Crosses. The unit returned to New Zealand in April 1919, welcomed as a complete unit.
WW11
The 28th (Māori) Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, the fighting arm
Members of the 28th Maori Battalion march up Nias Track to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 1940. Photo / PF Nash / NZ Herald Glass Plate Collection
of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) during the Second World War (193945). A frontline infantry unit made up entirely of volunteers, the Battalion usually contained 700750 men, divided into five companies. It was formed following pressure from Māori MPs to create an all-Māori volunteer unit; it was distinct from the First World War’s Māori Pioneer It was renowned for courage in Greece, North Africa, and Italy, suffering high casualties. As part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, over 3,600 men served, with 649 killed and 1,712 wounded, making it the most-decorated NZ battalion. The Māori Battalion sailed for home on Boxing Day 1945. On their arrival in Wellington on 23 January 1946, the 780 troops were welcomed as returning heroes before dispersing to their home marae throughout the country. Their commander, Lieutenant-Colonel James Hēnare, dismissed his men with these words:
Māori Battalion march to victory Māori Battalion, staunch and true Māori Battalion march to glory Take the honour of the people with you We will march, march, march to the enemy And we’ll fight right to the end. For God! For King! And for Country! AU - E! Ake, ake, kia kaha e! Māori Battalion march to victory Māori Battalion staunch and true Māori Battalion march to glory Take the honour of the people with you We will march, march, march to the enemy And we’ll fight right to the end. For God! For King! And for Country! AUE! Ake, ake, kia kaha e!
Lest We Forget
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Go back to our mountains, go back to our people, go back to our marae. But this is my last command to you all - stand as Māori, stand as Māori, stand as Māori.
Remembering ANZAC veterans and their families
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The tune was first used as a marching song, morale booster, and cultural symbol throughout WWII. The lyrics to the “Māori Battalion” marching song were written by Anania (Nan) Amohau of Te Arawa, who served in B Company of the 28th (Māori) Battalion. Originally, it was created for the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, which was a major national event held in Wellington from 8 November 1939 to 4 May 1940. It was created to celebrate one hundred years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and to highlight the country’s progress over that century. Source: Some material kindly sourced with permission from: Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage https://28maoribattalion.org.nz
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