The timing of two memorial events in Ruatoria this weekend happens to coincide perfectly with when they both happened 30 and 70 years ago, the Ngata Lectures Committee chairperson says.
The 30th anniversary of the Ngata Memorial Lectures will also be part of the Ngarimu VC Investiture hui, which first took place on the 6th of October in 1943.
Herewini Parata, of Ngati Porou, said the Ngarimu VC Investiture 70th anniversary at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, on the East Coast, will occur at the same time 2nd Lieutenant Moana Ngarimu was posthumously honoured in 1943.
It works out that the function on Sunday will happen 70 years later to the day and the minute, Mr Herewini said.
The Victoria Cross was presented to Moana Ngarimu's parents, who accepted it on behalf of their son who died fighting when the Maori Battalion launched an attack at the Tebaga Gap in Tunisia during World War II.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Sir Apirana Ngata Memorial Lectures and on the last night of the first lecture series, Sir Apirana spoke about the 28th Maori Battalion, he said.
