Kia hiwa ra! Kia hiwa ra!
Kua rere te kohu i Aorangi Maunga, kua rere te kohu i Aorangi tangata.
Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra.
The last surviving veteran of the 28th Maori Battalion to leave Wairarapa for World War II has died at the age of 88.
Kingi Matthews from D Company is lying in state at Papawai Marae in Greytown. He died on Sunday after being ill for some time.
Mr Matthews, of Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane, is due to be buried at Te Uru o Tane urupa in Greytown on Wednesday following his funeral service at 11am.
Mr Matthews was also a Maori All Black and past president of the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union.
