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Today Maori Battalion veteran Reihana Rautahi was laid to rest.
Rautahi passed away last Sunday aged 95 years old.
Pere Wihongi has more.
With the passing of one of their own
comes a great loss
for Dannevirke iwi Rangitane.
Many of them assembled in Paeroa to farewell this great chief.
Reihana Rautahi enlisted for the 28th Maori Battalion.
While in Monte Casino he was hit in the head by shrapnel.
It left the left side of his body paralyzed.
Besides Rautahi, the remaining survivors
of the 28th Maori Battalion are slowly dwindling in numbers.
My heart goes out to them.
They are slowly getting fewer and fewer.
I pay homage to all his fellow soldiers who were close to him.
They all only ever speak highly of him.
While he may no longer be physically present...
His spirit will remain like a flame on a candle.
Pere Wihongi, Te Karere.