MAORI NAMES
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN COMMEMORATE EL ALAMEIN Maoris attach much importance to the bestowal of names. Two infants recently born at Tuahiwi will be baptised at a ceremony there in a fortnight’s time.
The question now agitating the elders is the selection of appropriate names for them. One family group the other day, discussed the Maori rendering of El Alamein. A close relative of one of the children had fought there. They compromised on “Aramaina.”
Another member of the family had suggested “Herena,” the Maori version of Hellenes, a compliment to the Greeks.
Others have followed the ancient tradition of bestowing the names of the men who have fallen on new-born infants. It is doubtful whether his ■officers would recognise “Hironi” as Ceylon, one of the names borne by a sergeant with the Maori Battalion. Ceylon commemorates the fact that an uncle of this soldier, a well-known member of the Arawa tribe (and grandson of the famous- guide, Sophia), died there at the time of Hironi Wikiriwhi’s birth.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HPGAZ19430219.2.38
Bibliographic details
Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3229, 19 February 1943, Page 6
Word Count
169MAORI NAMES Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3229, 19 February 1943, Page 6
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Hauraki Plains Gazette. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in