Kamaea's The 28th Māori Battalion Poster

During ANZAC week, Te Wairua Pakiki 5 looked at the impact of the 28th Māori Battalion during World War two. We first watched a video by the Modern Māori Quartet who did a tribute called 'Pakanga Medley'. It is a collection of old war songs . We listened to the songs and took inspiration from the first song to do a little research into the 28th Māori Battalion.

The 28th Māori Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division who fought during the Second World War (1939-45). The 28th (Māori) Battalion was a specially formed battalion that was at times attached to each of the Division's three brigades.

Almost 3600 men served overseas with the Māori Battalion between 1940 and 1945. Of these, 649 were killed in action or died on active service – more than 10% of the 6068 New Zealanders who lost their lives serving with 2NZEF in the Middle East and Europe.

Here is Kamaea's poster. To read more from Kamaea click HERE!

Te wiki o te reo Māori - putiputi making with Angeline

1. Cut a piece of harakeke (flax).	2. Split the leaf down the middle until the hard stalk	3. Split each half into 3 even strips	4. Take 1 outside strip to fold it at a right angle and weave it under and over the other strips
5. When you finish weaving all the strips, turn the weaving 90’ and begin weaving again.	6. Keep turning and weaving until you have only short strips left.	7. The pattern will be a square.	8. Thread the strips through to the back.

9. Hold onto the front woven piece and turn it to make a spiral.

10. When happy with the putiputi shape, tie the back strips tightly in a knot.

11. Cut the stalk shorter if needed.

Photos:

                                                           Check out Angeline's blogspot here!