Return Of The Maori Battalion

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

If I was an artist (or an urbanist or a historian) I would take these photographs and place them on the Wellington waterfront for people to walk through.

kapa haka, world war two, wellington waterfront, wellington harbour, soldiers, maori battalion, john dobree pascoe

Image: Members of the Maori Battalion returning home after World War 2, Wellington Harbour

Members of the Maori Battalion returning home after World War 2, Wellington Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Troopship, Dominion Monarch, bringing members of the Maori Battalion home after World War 2, Wellington Harbour

Troopship, Dominion Monarch, bringing members of the Maori Battalion home after World War 2, Wellington Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori Battalion disembarking from a troopship

Maori Battalion disembarking from a troopship

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Officer from Maori Battalion returning from World War II; shows him leaving the ship Dominion Monarch, in Wellington

Officer from Maori Battalion returning from World War II; shows him leaving the ship Dominion Monarch, in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Maori Battalion coming ashore in Wellington after serving in World War 2

Members of the Maori Battalion coming ashore in Wellington after serving in World War 2

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Maori Battalion disembarking a troopship on their return from overseas service during World War II

Members of the Maori Battalion disembarking a troopship on their return from overseas service during World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori WAACs welcome the Maori Battalion

Maori WAACs welcome the Maori Battalion

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Maori members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp, Wellington wharf

Maori members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp, Wellington wharf

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group attending the welcome for the returning Maori Battalion, after World War Two

Group attending the welcome for the returning Maori Battalion, after World War Two

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori group from Taranaki performing a waiata for the returning members of the Maori Battalion at Aotea Quay, Wellington

Maori group from Taranaki performing a waiata for the returning members of the Maori Battalion at Aotea Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Women performing waiata to welcome home the Maori Battalion after World War II

Women performing waiata to welcome home the Maori Battalion after World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Women performing waiata to welcome home the Maori Battalion after World War II

Women performing waiata to welcome home the Maori Battalion after World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of Ngati Tuwharetoa performing a haka at the welcome for the returning Maori Battalion after World War II

Members of Ngati Tuwharetoa performing a haka at the welcome for the returning Maori Battalion after World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion

Return of the Maori Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion from service in World War II

Return of the Maori Battalion from service in World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion from service in World War II

Return of the Maori Battalion from service in World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Maori Battalion in Wellington after serving in World War 2

Members of the Maori Battalion in Wellington after serving in World War 2

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Maori Battalion in Wellington after their return from World War 2

Members of the Maori Battalion in Wellington after their return from World War 2

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion

Return of the Maori Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion

Return of the Maori Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of 28 (Maori) Battalion

Return of 28 (Maori) Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Return of the Maori Battalion

Return of the Maori Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the returning Maori Battalion eating a meal

Members of the returning Maori Battalion eating a meal

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group from Tokaanu performing a haka

Group from Tokaanu performing a haka

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Anania Amohau leading a haka during the welcome home ceremony for the Maori Battalion

Anania Amohau leading a haka during the welcome home ceremony for the Maori Battalion

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sergeant Major Anania Amohau performing the wero for the Maori Battalion, upon their arrival in Wellington

Sergeant Major Anania Amohau performing the wero for the Maori Battalion, upon their arrival in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Ngati-Poneke club performing for the Maori Battalion on their return to New Zealand

Members of the Ngati-Poneke club performing for the Maori Battalion on their return to New Zealand

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joseph Takuta

Joseph Takuta

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Weekly Review No. 232 - Māori Battalion Returns

Weekly Review No. 232 - Māori Battalion Returns

NZ On Screen

Image: Unidentified Maori women at the hakari (feast) to celebrate the return of the Maori Battalion from World War 2

Unidentified Maori women at the hakari (feast) to celebrate the return of the Maori Battalion from World War 2

Alexander Turnbull Library