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.
Maori War Effort
Articles
Māori War Effort Organisation
The Maori War Effort Organisation was formed during the Second World War to assist with recruitment for the forces and war-related service. Read the full article
Page 1 - Maori War Effort Organisation 1942-1945
The Maori War Effort Organisation was formed during the Second World War to assist with recruitment for the forces and war-related
Page 2 - Origins
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
Page 3 - Difficult times
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
Page 4 - An uneasy compromise
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
Māori and the Second World War
Despite some opposition, nearly 16,000 Māori enlisted for service during the Second World War. By 1945, 28 (Maori) Battalion had became one of New Zealand's most celebrated and decorated units. But Māori contributed to the war effort in many different ways, at home and overseas. Read the full article
Page 4 - The home front
Maori were active on the Home Front, involving themselves in the huge fund-raising and production efforts that New Zealanders undertook during the
