Pages tagged with: maori war effort

The Maori War Effort Organisation was formed during the Second World War to assist with recruitment for the forces and war-related service.

Assisted by two other Ratana-Labour MPs, Eruera Tirikatene and H.T. Ratana, Paraire Paikea drafted a scheme for an organisation to handle Maori recruitment and war-related activities.

When the Maori War Effort Organisation was established, the government had estimated that it would have a six-month life at a cost of £7,000. In 1943 Paikea asked that the timeframe be extended. He reasoned that as well as being essential to meet the country's wartime needs, the MWEO had a key role in post-war Maori development.

These Maori were employed at a Services vegetable production project near Levin in 1943

Minister of Native Affairs Rex Mason, wanting to curb the Maori War Effort Organisation's expansion or entrenchment, in 1944 initiated moves to introduce to the Native Department a system of welfare officers.

Eruera Tirikatene was the Member of Parliament for Southern Maori from 1932 to 1967 and leader of the Maori War Effort Organisation after the death of Paraire Paikea in 1943.

Peter Fraser was prime minister of New Zealand during the Second World War and minister in charge of the Maori war effort from April 1943.

Maori were active on the Home Front, involving themselves in the huge fund-raising and production efforts that New Zealanders undertook during the 1940s.