ODDFELLOWSHIP

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4559, 13 April 1942, Page 4

ODDFELLOWSHIP

MAORI’S GREAT HONOUR ELECTED TO BOARD OF GOVERNORS It is more than appropriate that the Centennial Conference of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows in New Zealand should elect to its Board of Directors a representative of the Maori race for the first time, says the Nelson Mail of 7th inst. On Easter Monday Thomas Matengaro Hetet received at the hands of his brethren this signal honour on behalf of his race. Brother Hetet comes from Te Kuiti and belongs to the Ngati Maniapoto tribe and is a direct descendant of that famous warrior of Orakau Pa fame, Rewi Maniapoto, whose “no surrender” battle cry, “Ka whawhai tonu motou-ake, ake, ake,” is well known. Brother Hetet served through the last war in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France, was wounded three times, and attained the rank of captain. On his return from active service he took an active part in Oddfellowship and in 1936 became Grand Master of the Auckland District. He was the first Maori to hold this office. His election to the Board of Directors is symbolic of the cordial ties of friendship that exist between the European and Maori people of New Zealand, and it has given no little pleasure that such an event should have occurred during the celebration of the 100th birthday of Oddfellowship in New Zealand.