Search on for mystery Māori soldier's name

3:09 pm on 11 August 2016

A call has gone out to identify a man photographed in a group of Māori soldiers from World War I.

Ngati Awa recruits photo

Back Row (from left): Unidentified; Haimona Hirini; Paora Mohi Hirini (aka S Hirini); Abraham Doherty (aka Aperahama Teri or Dick Doherty); Middle Row: Hamiora Tunoa (aka Snowy Lawson or Hamiora Roihana); Topia Merito; thought to be David Merito (aka Rawiri Merito) Front Row: Pareiha Tuati (aka David Apanui Stewart); Romana Ratima; George Simpson (aka Niao Himiona). Photo: Whakatane Museum

The studio photo of 10 Ngāti Awa men was taken in Wellington on 13 February 1915, the day before the contingent sailed for Egypt.

Nine of them had been identified but one remains a mystery.

Historian Monty Soutar is writing a book, Whītiki: Māori in the First World War, to be published next year.

He said he was hoping to be able to name the man before the book was published.

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