"It's A Long Way To Tipperary" Maori Pioneer Battalion March

History came alive in Gisborne on Saturday when the 100-strong guard of honour in the Maori Pioneer Battalion commemoration marched through the city in a stirring and emotional tribute parade.
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It commemorated 100 years to the day that 300 members of the battalion returned to Tairawhiti from World War One and were welcomed by “the Hui Aroha” at the racecourse.
A man standing on the parade route by the police station summed it up simply.
“What a spectacle. It’s just so moving,” he said with tears in his eyes.
Many hundreds of people lined the parade route from Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae to Kelvin Park, where the crowd swelled to around 2000, including many families, on the lawn outside C Company House.
The event included the second launch of Doctor Monty Soutar’s book on the battalion (see story on page 3).
“This has been a fabulous occasion that gives mana to the book and the other way round,” said Walton Walker, the chairman of parade organisers Nga Tama Toa Trust.
“We are absolutely thrilled. It’s all been quite special. What a magnificent sight.”
The marchers, aged from 12 to 60, were immaculately kitted out in WW1 uniforms, with Lee Enfield rifles at the slope and battalion colours flying. They marched at the quick step to the beat of a single drum.
The crunch of their hobnailed boots echoed as they went by, singing It’s A Long Way to Tipperary in English and Maori.
Doctor Soutar was thrilled with the way the parade went.
“My satisfaction is seeing the pleasure and pride on the faces of these men.”
He paid tribute to the work of drill instructor Rayner Jahnke, who in turn said “the men did themselves and their whanau proud”.
“For men who have only had on average about eight hours practice, they did fantastically well,” Mr Jahnke said.
Gisborne police officer and former Poverty Bay rugby representative Jamie Hutana was a marker in the front rank of the 100.
“It was awesome to be part of it . . . it was special and emotional, knowing the battalion did it 100 years ago.”
Seventeen-year-old Costa Blackman, from Tolaga Bay said it was “an honour and a privilege . . . a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent my tipuna”.
The youngster in the parade, 12-year-old Tumanako McGhie from Gisborne, was beaming when he said: “We were all so keen. It felt really good to be part of it.”
The battalion included Maori, Pakeha and Pacific Islanders, and that was represented in the parade.
Willie Apiata VC followed the marchers in a vintage car, accompanied by the nieces of Moana Ngarimu VC, who carried with them his gallantry medal. It was the first time both awards had been in the same place together.
Defence Minister Ron Mark and Sir Peter Jackson also attended.
Dr Soutar thanked Sir Peter, whose WingNut Films team provided the uniforms at a cost of $250,000.
“Much of that cost came out of Sir Peter’s own pocket,” said Dr Soutar. “Without him and his staff this could not have happened.”
Sir Peter said he was deeply moved by the entire process . . . “the training of these young guys, their marching and the people carrying photographs of their ancestors”.
“Gisborne is probably the only place in the world that could pull this off. It was an incredibly emotional sight.”
Doctor Soutar said the plan for the parade had always been “audacious . . . but we had God on our side with the weather”.
Following the ceremonies, the parade moved back to the marae via the Wi Pere Monument and Heipipi Park, including further haka and waiata.
A wreath was laid at the monument in honour of Wi Pere who was instrumental in the formation of the battalion.
Filmed and Edited by
Ben Cowper
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[@kiwiroadpirate9143]

Beautiful... makes the blood in my veins run cold, the hair on my neck stand on end, and brings tears to my eyes. Thank you fellas, and of course, thank you to the Maori Pioneers. Kia Kaha🌷

[@rasoulis59]

They did fight together with Greeks and English soldiers in the battle for Crete island Greece And local people loved them !

[@PaperThinArmor]

I wish there was a full recording of “Its a long way to Tipperary” in Maori

[@maryphillipps9889]

thankyou

[@xyz3524]

Brilliant description. I wish every video on KZbin had one like this one.

[@rovelito1353]

May all the Maori who died in the First World War for New Zealand and the British Empire rest in peace

[@bobsemple07]

wow really cool to see its a long way to tipperay in maori

[@vilnissalzemnieks9356]

Fantastic, thank you all. The jewelry looked real.

[@reflectingtrees6173]

What a sight to see

[@tonyandsandrashaw8327]

Fantastic Te Hokiwhitu Atu

[@Dark_knight1980]

Heroes remembered forever ❤💯🇳🇿

[@crookedpaths6612]

It’s a long way to Tipperary. It’s a longer way to Tolaga Bay!

[@herbertjohnston4608]

Brilliant crack on lads.👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@bgreen8853]

R.I.P pte A J Lockwood

[@jordihg]

Impresionante ❤❤❤❤

[@steveotene986]

ow mean alright you fullas really honoured our koros you know... mean Maori... 💯

[@Kingite1]

Go the 28th Ake Ake.!!

[@raunadawson7757]

😭😭😭😭

[@raiskari8439]

Give me a Maori battalion and I will conquer the world - General Erwin Rommel

[@coastsouljah]

British officers missing

[@ora-in-aotearoa9747]

We need to make the Maori battalion training compulsory for all maori whakapapa from the age of 15, 6 month training course then back to kura, the defense of Aotearoa is our right

[@Dark_knight1980]

Soon whanau hopefully, that does help young ones understand discipline , prepares them for their future , qualified tradees before 21st bday that would be cool 👍

[@patrickmartin3326]

Cha

[@coastsouljah]

Front of column centre bad selection 💨

[@tinihemara2634]

🤗🤗😹😹😹😹😹🤗🤗😹😹😹

[@frederickparatene3625]

Kowhaiwhai...Kowhaiwhai...kowhaiwhai....Tena Koutou Katoa Rangatira, Ko whangatauatia Toku Maunga Ko Te Rarawa Kaitangata Te iwi Ko Waiora , Waikare Te awa Te Kapotai toku Hapu,Ko Te Whare Tupuna Taku marae,Ko Dawn ataratapu Paratene Toku mama Ko F.J.Paratene Toku Ingoa, No reira Tena koutou Tena Kotou Tena Koutou Katoa... W.H.O and N.H.I Regestered Covid 19 Activated for Virus"s Of War Crimes .

[@zaynevanday142]

Fkn Apiata 😂

[@A_Talented_Maori]

Who did these soldiers fight for? Because I know that all minerals consents have to go through an English Crown entity. So we as Maori don't actually get a say in what happens to our land, unless we fight tooth and nail to get it back through a biased judicial system that is owned/run and exploited by the Crown. So again I ask, who did these soldiers fight for?

[@Dark_knight1980]

E hoa it's a respect parade reenactment🤣 uniforms supplied by sir peter Jackson dont take you're anger out on these young kids

[@92miata]

For the Crown, obviously😏