Maori Battalion still staunch and true

Some thought it might be their last reunion but the hardened veterans of the 28th NZ (Maori) Battalion who gathered in the Far North at the weekend had other ideas.
The Easter reunion and AGM at Omapere were attended by about 70 veterans - 11 of whom were from Northland - and the event also featured the launch of a CD featuring the music and stories of New Zealand's World War Two Maori shocktroops.
Organising committee secretary Pita Tipene said the veterans, who had also been known as "the singing battalion", enjoyed listening to the CD and watching a screening of archival footage from World War Two of the battalion overseas.
At the outbreak of World War Two, the men of what is better known as The Maori Battalion rallied from the country's towns and far-flung settlements in response to Sir Apirana Ngata's call for tangata whenua to provide a division of soldiers.
Through the war years more than 3500 Maori men would join the Battalion, the majority fighting in Italy, North Africa, the Middle East, Greece and Crete.
At the weekend's AGM, Moerewa's Tamati Paraone stood down as president of the Maori Battalion's National Association and Paora Kruger, of Whakatane, was elected president. He already has plans for another reunion in Whakatane.
The veterans chose from a number of excursions including a trip to view the massive kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, at Waipoua forest, a trip aboard the Alma on the Hokianga Harbour or a visit to the Waitangi Treaty House Grounds, where the Battalion had gathered before going overseas.
The former coach of the New Zealand Maori rugby team, Matt Te Pou, was MC for the reunion.