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28th Maori Battalion Visit PMC
20 April 2010
1 NZSAS Group hosted veterans and family descendants of the 28th Maori Battalion with a visit into Papakura Military Camp (PMC). The visit was a part of the 28th Maori Battalion reunion held in Auckland over the weekend 5–7 March and was organised by the 28 NZ Maori Battalion Auckland Association and representatives from Te Puni Kokiri. Military contribution to the reunion came from Army Chaplain Kevin Herewini, 3 Auckland North Regiment and 1 NZSAS Group.
Papakura Military Camp was a staging area for many units and subunits during WWII. For some of the veterans the visit to PMC was a return to their old stomping grounds where members of A Coy, 28 Maori Battalion and subsequent reinforcement contingents from northern Iwi conducted their initial training prior to deploying overseas.
The veterans’ visit to the camp consisted of a Powhiri with Kai Wero from 1 NZSAS Group and Taiaha tutor Mingo Kereama, kai karanga from Sgt Luanne Taikato (PMC Mess), and liaison from Staff Sergeant Aaron Taikato (Northern Region Recruiting).
The Commanding Officer of 1 NZSAS Group, welcomed the visitors into the camp and wished them well for their reunion. Following the speeches the guests were invited to have light refreshments in Holloway Mess and were given a presentation from Padre Kevin Herewini. Old photos of Papakura Camp during the 1940s were also on display.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Judith Collins attended and addressed the veterans and their families. Veterans spoke in reply and as always followed with many well known Maori waiata composed by soldiers from the Maori Battalion. After refreshments the visitors joined Padre Kevin Herewini in a short karakia before departing the camp to continue their reunion programme.
Like many war veterans their numbers are starting to dwindle. With the passing away of veterans the list of those attending reunions grows smaller each year. Of the 3,600 soldiers who served in the Maori Battalion only 50 surviving members remain today.
Many thanks to all those who assisted with a successful visit, in particular Padre Kevin Herewini, mess staff and the Training Officer, 1 NZSAS Group.
The 28th (Maori) Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, the fighting arm of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) during World War II (1939–45).
Like the other infantry battalions, the Maori Battalion was divided into five companies: four rifle companies of about 125 men each and a headquarters company of around 200 men. The Battalion’s four rifle companies (named A, B, C and D) were organised along tribal lines, while HQ Company drew its personnel from all over Maoridom.
The NZ Division which was made up of 15,000–20,000 men, divided into three infantry brigades (the 4th, 5th and 6th Brigades), plus artillery, engineers, signals, medical and service units. Each brigade initially had three infantry battalions (numbered from 18th to 26th). The 28th (Maori) Battalion was a specially formed battalion that was at times attached to each of the Division’s three brigades.
This page was last reviewed on 28 July 2010 and is current.
