Poroporoaki: Kingi Matthews

"Ngarue ana te whenua, ngaoko ana te moana i te hinganga o ngā totara o te wao, ā, mō wai ana tērā i te maunga o ngā kākā haetara.

Waiho rātou kia tiraha mai, ko tātou ki konei takatū ai ki ngā mahi. Me pēnei noa ake te kōrero, ko rātou ki a rātou ko tātou ki a tātou, tēnā anō koutou".

The Māori Party has acknowledged with great sadness the passing of 28 Maori Battalion D Company Veteran and former Maori All Black, Kingi Matthews of Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitane.

“Our nation owes a debt of immense gratitude to the almost 3600 men who served overseas with the Māori Battalion between 1940 and 1945” said Māori Party Co-leader, Te Ururoa Flavell. Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg once noted “no infantry battalion had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting or alas, had such heavy casualties as the Māori Battalion”.

Our grief is marked by the fact that Kingi was the last surviving Maori Battalion soldier to depart for WWII from Wairarapa. We honour him for his service and his devotion on behalf of our nation, and we pay tribute to the massive sacrifice of Kingi and others in D Company who served in campaigns across North Africa, Greece, Crete and Italy”.

“Matua Kingi was a stalwart of the Wairarapa community, a brave figurehead and a legend amongst our whānau, as the bravest of warriors” said Co-leader, Marama Fox.

“We all had a huge amount of respect for Kingi. He was held in great reverence for his dignity and his distinguished presence.

“Kingi was also held in great esteem as the oldest surviving Māori All-Black, with a proud history as past president of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union and a member of Wairarapa’s 1950 winning Ranfurly Shield team”.

“Our aroha goes out to our beautiful kuia, Petina (Polly), and all their children and mokopuna who are gathering at Papawai Marae to mourn. While the spirit of the battalion will live on in the generations to follow, our hearts are heavy–laden today as we bid farewell to such a noble leader of our people”.

Moe mai ra e koro!

ENDS

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