Great song of the Māori Battalion could be our second anthem

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

I want to support the letter on Thursday from “Kia Ora” asking why the great song of the Māori Battalion is not sung at Anzac services. I have felt for many years that this rousing and historic song should be our second popular anthem — like what Waltzing Matilda is to Australians, which is often sung in preference to “Advance Australia Fair” (a girl’s blouse of a song).

Anyway, think of a rugby crowd of 50,000 lustily singing “Ake! Ake! Kia kaha E!” before an ABs game. Or, better, during the game!

Ewan Mcgregor