Maori Battalion reunion

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 1

Maori Battalion reunion

New Zealand had to indicate to the world that it was one nation where two races lived in harmony side by side and with complete equality, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) when he addressed the 28th (Maori) Battalion Association reunion in the city yesterday. “The world must know that we have the same opportunities in life regardless of race. If not, then we are not living up to the ideals of the Treaty of Waitangi,” he said. Because he would be unable to attend the business part of the reunion this morning Mr Pickering delegated the first Maori councillor to sit on the Christchurch City Council (Cr A F. Orme) officially to represent him. About 900 former Maori soldiers—mainly from the battalion—paraded at the Addington Show Grounds for the official welcome to the city by the Mayor and to hear welcoming speeches by the local organisers of the reunion, company commanders and the member of Parliament for Southern Maori (Mrs W. TirakateneSullivan). Throughout the one-hour official welcome there was a relaxed, informal atmosphere with considerable hilarity which generally prevented the speechmakers from becoming too serious or too longwinded.

Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan said she spoke as one of a younger generation who had admired and been inspired by the battalion’s exploits in

war and who today continued to-look to the former soldiers for inspiration on matters of moment for'the Maori people. The 28th (Maori) Battalion had Won grudging respect and admiration from the enemy: and ally alike, .said' Mr : J. Karetai, who thanked the former soldiers tot, “putting* their lives on the line 30 years ago so that the rest of us could breathe freely today.” > The .battalion’s patron (Mr . R. Morrison) 1 wished the association a happy, successful and rewarding week-end reuniop. and. conference. The president >(Lieutenant-Colonel C. . M. Etennett) . .thanked * (he city of, Christchurch for its welcome., . Best wishes for a successful reudjon and “her affectionate good, wishes to her dear friends "in the' Maori Battalion” .were sent by Lady Freyberg. She-said the battalion was always to-the fore in the* big- and now 1 historical. wartime moments 1 and that her late husband, I General Freyberg, always held a* very special ‘place in

his plans for the battalion— After the official powhiri to visitors the former soldiers who, with their wives, come from all parts of the Dominion, attended a Wine iand cheese function in! Can* terbury • Court where last evening a social* and dance was held, ' • This morning the battalion will hold its conference .which ' Will be ojiened by the Min- ' ister of Maori Affairs (Mr 1 Maclntyre). ’ ■ The reunion , goes on until 1 Monday. '