A special Anzac at Te Hapua
A hundred people gathered at the marae at Te Hapua last week to commemorate Anzac Day, and to witness the unveiling of the honours board naming those from the area who served in the two world wars and Korea.
“This was a first for Te Hapua, and proved to be a very emotional time as participants honoured those who had served in defence of freedom and their country,” former Te Hapua School principal (and speaker at last week’s service) Robin Shepherd said.
Mr Shepherd, who with wife Gena was teaching at Te Hapua when the school celebrated its 75th birthday, said he had suggested that the former pupils who had served should be remembered. The list of names was compiled in 1970, by Moko Rewi and others, but was too late for inclusion in the book.
(“It sort of faded away after that,” he said, “but I suggested that the names should go on to an honours board. That was about 10 years ago, and then the Te Hapua branch of the Ma¯ori Women's Welfare League got involved.”)
Those remembered were: World War I Rata Murupaenga (wounded), Waitai Rata (wounded), Len Keene (wounded), Allen Munro. World War II - Fred Rameka, Tupani Waitai (wounded), Brown Brown (killed in action), John Norman (wounded), Oneroa Horne, Mati Petricevich (killed in action), Wiki Sylva, Rapi Sylva (killed in action), Dick Lazarus, Toka Abraham, Charlie Petera, Witamiha Rata, Ben Waenga, Herbert Subritzky, Mac Herewini, William Waitaia, Mili Murray. K Force John Brown, Brown Norman, Morehu Pene, Billy Karena.
The Anzac Day service also marked the dedication of a flagpole on which the Nga¯ti Kur¯ı flag was hoisted for the first time, while some placed photos of their loved ones on a table and lit candles.
“Many tales were told and memories shared of those named on the honours board, and it was resolved to add any missing names,” Mr Shepherd added.
The memorial plaque was unveiled by Pineaha Murray and blessed by Rapine Murupaenga.
The gathering ended with lunch and the cutting of a cake decorated with red poppies. The role played by the local branch of the Ma¯ori Women’s Welfare League, hosts of the occasion, was warmly acknowledged.