By the
time the Second World War ended in 1945 the 28th (Maori) Battalion had become
one of the most celebrated and decorated units in the New Zealand forces. The
pinnacle of its achievement was the Victoria Cross won by Te Moananui-a-Kiwa
Ngarimu in 1943.
“We will lose some of the most promising of our young
leaders [...] but we will gain the respect of our Pakeha (Europeans) brothers
and the future of our race as a component and respected part of the New Zealand
people will be less precarious”.
Sir Apirana Ngata, Maori
leader, 1940.
Now you can learn many more things about the performance of both communities (Maori and European descendants) by visiting the complete NZHistory website. Enjoy!
Photo: A Maori platton performing their famous “haka” during the militar campaing in Egypt, 1941
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