Warrior farewell for Maori soldier

FITTING FAREWELL:Warriors perform a traditional ritual for dignified rangatira. The youths are Wharekura students of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Wairarapa. PHOTO/ LYNDA FERINGA

Kingi Matthews of Greytown, the last 28th Maori Battalion D-Company veteran, was farewelled by hundreds at Papawai Marae yesterday.

Five generations of his family and the Wairarapa community went to pay their respects to the veteran and last survivor of the 1946 Maori All Blacks rugby team.

Paora Ammunson told friends, battalion veterans, politicians, councillors and the rugby fraternity that his uncle was really "all of our uncles".

Mr Matthews, QSM, of Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane, served in World War II with the famous battalion and was a Maori All Black from 1946-1950.

He died on Sunday at the age of 88, leaving behind his wife of 66 years, Polly. One of his friends described him as "a man who spoke little but did lots" - testament to his involvement in Wairarapa rugby, military groups and gardening.

He was once president of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union, one of his proudest jobs, and in his long playing career helped the representative side lift the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in 1950.

Tina Matthews, one of his 10 children, said her father volunteered for war at 16.

"When enlisted, he presented himself to his father who laughed because he had his garters on backwards."

She said her dad taught them to "stand tall with your head up high ... he was the dad that made us who and what we are today."

He was also an uncle who was always there for advice and support and passed on his love of sport to his grandchildren. His grandchildren described their "pop" with four words: survivor, humble, mana, legendary.

Relative and NZ First MP Ron Mark recounted a story that Mr Matthews' long-time friend Gordon Stubbs, a World War II veteran, had told him.

"During the Battle of Cassino, Kingi found himself taking shelter under a platform of a railway station.

"Gordon was going there and he told him 'if you go to the station, you'll find a rock under there with my fingerprints embedded in it'.

"He was terrified at that stage, he was big enough to admit it ... he got up from that, continued and survived."

Mr Mark saluted Mr Matthews.

"Uncle Kingi, go well, stand down, your work is done."

WBRU president Rex Playle said Mr Matthews was very proud of Maori rugby.

"He's been a great stalwart in our rugby fraternity."

Sir Brian Lochore said Mr Matthews was somebody he "absolutely respected" and one of the great presidents of WBRU.

"I remember the first time I saw Kingi, at the front of the lineout.

"He was a father, a friend and a hell of a great New Zealander."

He said the Matthews family had a big influence on his life.

"You have given an amazing amount of time to rugby in Wairarapa, I'm sure it won't stop."

Mr Matthews was taken from the marae to be buried at Ura O Tane, where an Army firing party fired three volleys as a mark of respect.