3 x Articles - Land wars, Italian Ambassador & Maori in war

[Kiwi Frontline]

VETERAN CALLS FOR LIVES LOST DURING NZ LAND WARS TO BE HONOURED

However, by remembering those who served their country, Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League president Te Kei Merito, also wants to see the lives of those who fought during the New Zealand Land Wars honoured the same as those on ANZAC Day. 

The Malay veteran says its time the thousands of lives lost in the New Zealand land wars to be honoured in the same way. 

Merito says, "I feel for our ancestors who lost their lives. They were jailed without trial in South Island caves. Some died of hypothermia."......

www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/veteran-calls-lives-lost-during-nz-land-wars-be-honoured

[Kiwi Frontline]

"THERE IS A DEBT FROM MY COUNTRY TO THE MĀORI COMMUNITY" - ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

Nearly 30,000 NZ soldiers lost their lives in World War I and World War II, with more than 2000 buried in cemeteries throughout Italy. To commemorate that special connection, an honoured guest , Italian ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli, was hosted by Ngāti Hori, Ngāti Toa Harapaki in Hawke's Bay today.

Marcelli says, “The NZ soldiers, the Māori combatants of the battalion gave a lot in terms of lives, blood and hardship when they fought in Italy for our liberation, as I said in my speech, today is not just Anzac Day, it is also Italy's liberation day.”

203 of those soldiers who paid the ultimate price in Italy were from the 28th Māori Battalion, while over 880 more Māori soldiers were injured.  To this day, they are held in high regard by the people of Italy.......

www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/there-debt-my-country-maori-community-italian-ambassador

[Kiwi Frontline]

DID YOU KNOW WAIKATO MĀORI REFUSED TO FIGHT IN WWI?

While it’s common to think that support for the war effort in 1914-18 was more or less unanimous in New Zealand, the reality was quite different.

After the outbreak of war, Waikato and Maniapoto were the only iwi to volunteer for service, under the leadership of Sir Apirana Ngata and Sir Māui Pōmare.  Meanwhile, many Māori from Taranaki and Tainui-Waikato resisted the call to fight for ‘King and Country’.

It had only been 50 years since the first Taranaki war and invasion of the Waikato, which led to widespread land confiscation.  Considering many pakeke who had experienced the New Zealand Wars and their aftermath were still alive by the time WWI broke out, Māori of military age were inclined to stay at home......

www.maoritelevision.com/news/latest-news/did-you-know-waikato-maori-refused-fight-wwi