Theme 03
Themes The War Away

Te Hokowhitu a Tū

More than 260 Ngāi Tahu soldiers were among the 2,227 Māori that served in World War One.

Badges of the Māori Contingent with the motto Te Hokowhitu a Tū (the 70 twice-told warriors of the war god)

Canterbury Museum 1948.20.38

At the outbreak of the War, imperial policy did not permit indigenous people to fight alongside European troops. After lobbying by Māori Members of Parliament, the Māori Contingent was formed, which included about 30 Ngāi Tahu men from Canterbury.

The Māori Contingent initially provided skilled labour in support of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. However, a need for reinforcements after heavy losses at Gallipoli forced a change in imperial policy on “native peoples” fighting and the Māori Contingent was deployed as infantry at Gallipoli in July 1915.

 

Arthur Paahi3

Arthur Pahi is on the left holding the cards

Courtesy of Lynda Goodrick. All Rights Reserved

Arthur Pahi

Some were so keen to serve that they lied about their age so they could enlist. Private Taurekareka (Arthur) Pahi joined up in 1917 and sailed for the front in 1918. According to his military record, he was born in 1897. However, he was actually born in 1902, making him only 15 years old when he enlisted.

Arthur survived the War, returned to Canterbury and married Erina Teuria Momo. He served again during World War Two.

William Bannister4

William Te Koeti Bannister

Rifleman William Te Koeti Bannister was one of nine men to enlist from Makaawhio Pā at Jacobs River on the West Coast. This was a huge contribution from the small settlement that had only 13 able-bodied men. Kinihi Kere Te Naihi (Kelly) Katau and Wilson Te Naihi Katau never returned.

William Bannister was wounded in 1917 and returned home. He served in the Home Guard in World War Two.

 

William Te Koeti Bannister

Courtesy of Kara Edwards. All Rights Reserved

The War Away
Trophies, Souvenirs and Keepsakes
Picturing the War

This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial licence.

On the Eve of War
01
01

On the Eve of War

At the turn of the twentieth century, Canterbury was one of the most prosperous provinces in New Zealand

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Going to War
02
02

Going to War

Britain’s declaration of war caused great excitement in Canterbury. Thousands enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force

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The War Away
03
03

The War Away

New Zealand soldiers and nurses endured the joys and sorrows of life at war and all had stories worth telling

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The War at Home
04
04

The War at Home

In many respects the war at home was the women’s war

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Illness, Injury and Death
05
05

Illness, Injury and Death

Up to 18.4 million people were killed and 23.7 million injured in World War One

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Lives Changed
06
06

Lives Changed

Everyone’s life was changed in some way by the War. Most New Zealanders knew someone who had died

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Reflections
07
07

Reflections

World War One prematurely ended the lives of millions and forever changed the world

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Roll of Honour
08
08

Roll of Honour

Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice by adding a poppy to the Roll of Honour

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This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial licence.