28 Maori Battalion battle honours paraded

Tā Sir Robert Gillies, Kamupene B, 28 (Māori) Battalion paraded the 28 (Māori) Battalion Campaign and Battle Honours Colour, Āke Ake Kia Kaha at Te Whare Runanga, Waitangi on Anzac Day before resting the Colour at the 28 (Māori) Battalion Memorial House, Te Rau Aroha.

Earlier in the day Tā Robert and Mr Hone Harawira paraded with the 28 (Māori) Battalion Campaign and Battle Honours Flag at the Dawn Parade at Ngaiotonga before travelling to Kororāreka where, accompanied by local whanau, he raised the Battalion’s Campaign and Battle Honours Colour at Te Maiki Hill where it flew at half mast until the conclusion of the Civic

Memorial Service at Village Green, Kororāreka.

During the Service Tā Robert addressed the gathering and said “war never solves anything”.

“We’ve had so many of them, and we are still having more. So I say to the whole world let us have peace,” he said.

During his whaikōrero Mr Peter Tipene, Chairman of the Waitangi

Trust Board reinforced Tā Roberts sentiments that the New Defence Force 28 (Māori) Battalion flag and the 28 (Māori) Battalion Campaign and Battle Honours flag stand sideby-side as pou maumahara that acknowledge the parallel sacrifices of Tangata Tiriti and Tangata Tikanga Māori during World War II. At the conclusion of the Service Tā Robert marched the