Places

Date: 17 April 1993

From: Hiruharama Oral History Project

By: Tibble, Emily Sophia, 1915-2000; Tibble, Te Rauwhiro, 1912-1996

Reference: OHInt-0099-14

Description: Whiro and Emily Tibble detail their family backgrounds. Whiro Tibble describes his schooling at Tikitiki primary and at Te Aute College, talks about his brothers, his marriage and children. He talks about joining the Maori Battalion, training at Papakura, joining the Battalion at Maadi, his fellow Battalion members, his experiences at war, being awarded the Military Cross at Senteno River in Italy, the advantages of being an officer, ability of Maori soldiers, the men under his command and his good relationship with the Italian people. Emily Tibble describes how she was born in Dunedin and then moved to Te Araroa, attending Te Araroa Native School, school friends, local people, raupo houses, businesses in Te Araroa during her childhood and friendship of her family with the local people. Talks about her brother Jim Abraham (Warihi), notes that he went to WWI at the age of 16 and then later to WWII. Describes how Jim was a prisoner of war, how she met him after the war in Rotorua and how he started a restaurant in Te Araroa named the Maadi Cafe. Details the cafe, her experiences working there and notes how popular the cafe was with football players, in particular the Hicks Bay players. Describes going back to work in the family General Store after Jim returned to Rotorua. Details Jim's death at Hui Toopu while bathing at the hot pools, the large tangi for him at Ohinemutu and the family argument over where he should be buried. Notes that he was buried at the RSA cemetry in Rotorua. Describes life in Te Araroa during the war, the farwells for the soldiers from Te Araroa and the sad welcome back for those that returned. Talks about the fear of answering the phone because of bad news, about the non-Maori who joined the Battalion and about some of the men from Te Araroa that were killed during the war. Comments that 35 from Te Araroa were killed at war. Emily Tibble describes meeting and marrying Whiro Tibble, Te Araroa when it was thriving and how it is today now that most people have left. Details leaving Te Araroa herself, moving to Gisborne and talks about attending Battalion reunions. Interviewer(s) - Monty Soutar Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005816b, OHC-005817, OHC-005818 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1222b. Search dates: 1993

Date: 15 Jun 1992

From: Women in World War II Part II

By: Anderson, Ripeka, 1921-2015

Reference: OHInt-0064/18

Description: Ripeka Anderson was born at Otorohanga on 27 July 1921. Gives her iwi as Ngati Maniapoto and hapu as Ngati Uekaha. Describes starting school at the age of eight at Hauturu near Kawhia. Talks about her tupuna who were Pai Marire. Notes that she became Methodist and her husband was a member of the Ratana faith. Describes food and fuel gathering and the family's punga house. Recalls the beginning of war and details of some of her relatives who went overseas with the Maori Battalion. Talks about women working on farms as land girls and her involvement in knitting, spinning and sending food parcels to the soldiers. Recalls dances with Maori bands and smoking straw and torori. Describes tolerance towards the birth of illegitimate children during the war. Discusses attitudes towards Maori going to war and mentions Te Puea. Talks about the wartime experience of husband to be Aterea Anihana in Greece and Crete, the medals he received and his return to New Zealand before the end of the war with tuberculosis, on the hospital ship `Oranje'. Recalls meeting him and their marriage before he went to a sanatorium. Describes their post war life in Bennydale. Describes his work in the mine and later the cement works. Talks about their family, race relations and involvement in organisations including Maori Women's Welfare League and the school Board of Governors. Describes her husband's deteriorating health, amputation of his legs and some difficulty in getting war compensation. Talks about Kingitanga, poukai (the growing and giving of food) and the marae. Talks about retirement to Te Kuiti, being a kaumatua on the marae and involvement with the Iwi Transition Authority and Maniapoto Runanga. Comments on the importance of grandparents and parents. Venue - Te Kuiti : 1992 Interviewer(s) - Queenie Rikihana-Hyland Venue - Te Kuiti Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004789; OHC-004790; OHC-004791 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 858.

Date: 31 Mar-1 Apr 1993

By: New Zealand. Ministry of External Relations and Trade; Bennett, Charles Moihi Te Arawaka (Sir), 1913-1998

Reference: OHColl-0217/1

Description: Sir Charles Moihi Te Arawaka Bennett gives details of his family background. His father, Frederick Augustus Bennett, was the first Maori Bishop of Aotearoa. His grandfather, Jackson Bennett, was the first surveyor-general of New Zealand. Explains his father married Arihia Rangioue Hemana of Maketu, who was of prominent Te Arawa descent. Describes being raised in Maketu by his grandparents while his parents lived at Hastings. Recalls use of Maori language at Maketu School and that the headmaster, A.F. Burnett, suggested he continue education at Te Aute College. Describes attending Te Aute, getting used to the discipline and some loneliness. Talks about E.G. (Ernest Going) Loten the headmaster who instilled principles, philosophies and some religion. Discusses decision to become a teacher and training at Christchurch while studying for a BA in History at Canterbury University College. Comments that he was one of the few Maori at college or university and that while he did not meet overt prejudice he had to consciously embrace Pakeha ways. Discusses the beginning of World War II, the non-conscription of Maori and Sir Apirana Ngata's appeal to Maori to fight. Recalls viewing the War as an opportunity to see the world. Comments that of seven boys in his family, who went to war, five joined the Maori Battalion. Describes training at Trentham and Palmerston North: the discipline of training and finishing the course as an officer. Mentions George Dittmer, the Commanding Officer, the second in command George Bertrand and the Regimental Sergeant Major, Ace Woods. Describes how they were organised into tribal groups and fought as whanau. Notes that A Division was the Auckland area, B Division was Taupo, Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty, C Division was Ngati Porou (East Coast) and D Division was Hawkes Bay, Taranaki and the South Island. Comments on being taught to use his talents for the betterment of Maori. Describes his career progression from platoon commander to company commander then battalion commander. Recalls going overseas and landing in England where the Maori Battalion was well received. Describes broadcasting for the BBC and the response by Lord Haw-Haw. Recalls the Maori Battalion's first active duty in the Greek mountains and the impossibility of stopping the Germans. Describes being withdrawn and going to Crete. Gives details of the mission against German airborne invasion. Discusses the plan of attack, German possession of the Maleme airfield, and accounts for the mission's ultimate failure. Describes how the Maori Battalion trekked across mountains to the other side of the island to be evacuated and how some of the troops were left behind. Recalls arriving in Egypt where reinforcements were waiting. Discusses Dittmer's wounding in Libya and successive replacements: Colonel Love, Colonel Fred Baker, Major Hart until, and in November 1942, he (Bennett) was offered the position of commanding officer of the Maori Battalion by Kippenberger. Comments on Kippenberger and General Freyberg. Recalls taking over command in the middle of El Alamein. Describes in detail the battle of Point 209 where Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed, posthumously receiving a VC. Talks about the battle of Takrouna. Venue - Te Puke : 1993 Sponsored by - Ministry of External Relations Interviewer(s) - Jim Sullivan Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 5.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - edited transcript, OHA-1000. Search dates: 1993