A fitting tribute to the Ma¯ ori Battalion
The granddaughter of a 28th Ma¯ori Battalion officer is excited about plans for a museum at Waitangi dedicated to the famous battalion, but sorry it would be too late for the veterans to see it.
Among those who welcomed Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones’ announcement of plans to build the museum at the Treaty Grounds by Waitangi Day 2020 was Melissa Peehikuru, whose grandfather William Porter of Kaeo enlisted by chance, but quickly rose to the rank of major in A Company. His story was the focus of an Anzac-themed exhibition in Kaeo in 2016.
The museum would open a door to all New Zealanders to acknowledge an important part of their history, Ms Peehikuru said.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m excited that it’s happening,” she added.
“It would have been wonderful to share this experience with the battalion members and have them speak first-hand, but it will be a great opportunity for us as wha¯nau, as descendants, as Ma¯ori and as New Zealanders to have a museum dedicated to the men and women who fought for our country.”
As well as battalion memorabilia and medals, she hoped the museum would include an area where wha¯nau could display personal mementoes, as well as a virtual zone with videos, audio recordings and online database access, plus access to the existing battalion website, with a chance for wha¯nau to add to battalion whakapapa.
Any wall of honour should include the names of all servicemen and women who lost their lives, she said.
Currently living in Auckland, Ms Peehikuru and her father, Jim Porter, hoped to be part of the opening of the museum.
Consultation is still under way with representatives of the battalion’s five companies, and final plans have yet to be drawn up. Waitangi National Trust chief executive Greg McManus said the design would be sensitive to the landscape and history of the Treaty Grounds.
Mr Jones said money had been set aside as part of the NZ First-Labour coalition agreement, but would not say how much it was expected to cost.
Few, if any, veterans of the battalion remain. The last surviving member of Northland’s A Company, Charlie Petera (Ngataki), died in 2016 at the age of 92. Two years earlier Moerewa’s Solomon Te Whata died, aged 96.
The late Sir James Henare, from Motatau, was the battalion’s last commanding officer. The MP for Ta¯maki Makaurau, Peeni Henare, is one of his grandsons.