Heroe’s welcome for Victoria Cross recipient
by Aroha Treacher
The homecoming for Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata is set to be the biggest that Te Kaha has ever seen.
Around three thousand people are expected to descend upon Te Kaha this weekend as the humble VC winner pays a visit.
With such a high number of expected well-wishers, resources among the 375 strong population of Te Kaha will no doubt be put to the test.
Te Whanau o Apanui Iwi (the Te Kaha tribe) is offering its backyards and spare paddocks to help with the demand for parking.
The enormity of the event is on a much larger scale than Te Whanau o Apanui winnning the national kapahaka competition in 2005.
“It far exceeds that,” said a Te Kaha local.
Yvonne Headland is helping to organise the event and explains how it has been a combined effort of all the different hapu in the area.
“Each area does something,” she said. “Pudding, seafood, bread and trifle mainly.”
“It’s really sweet to have the army help. It’s putting the cream on the icing.
“The fact that people are actually coming together and co-ordinating together is a picture in itself,” she said.
Te Whanau o Apanui Iwi believes this is something that has to be done, not just for Willie, but for the Iwi as well.
“It’s the honourable thing for us to do,” said Yvonne. “It’s something you can put your heart into and it’s exciting for our new generation.”
Tatiana Teddy, 12, who is related to Corporal Apiata, said that her family are “estatic” and are “really proud of Willie”.
Tatiana is also part of the Te Kaha Cadet Unit which will be marching with Corporal Apiata on the day.
Corporal Apiata specifically asked for the unit to parade with him. He will also conduct a uniform inspection of the parade.
Second Lieutenant of the unit Jacki Campbell is pleased that Corporal Apiata has chosen to include the children in the celebrations.
“He has always made time for us,” she said.
The celebrations taking place this weekend will include guest speakers from different politicians and military personell.