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| Haane Manahi | |
|---|---|
| Name | Haane Manahi |
| Birth date | 28 March 1913 |
| Birth place | Temuka, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Death date | 1 April 1986 |
| Death place | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Branch | New Zealand Military Forces |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 28th (Māori) Battalion |
| Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Haane Manahi was a New Zealand Māori soldier noted for conspicuous gallantry during the Second World War. Born in Temuka in Canterbury and raised in Maori communities, he served with the 28th (Māori) Battalion in the Middle East and North Africa, gaining a reputation at Cassino, El Alamein, and in the Italian Campaign. His wartime actions led to a contentious nomination for the Victoria Cross, sparking a postwar campaign involving veterans, politicians, and historians.
Manahi was born in Temuka, South Canterbury, to parents of Ngāi Tahu descent and was raised in a rural South Island setting near Waimate and Timaru. He attended local schools in Canterbury and worked on sheep stations associated with station owners and farming families linked to agriculture. He was active in Ngāi Tahu marae life, maintaining ties with iwi associated with Otago and Southland. Prior to mobilisation he was employed in shearers' camps and labour gangs that served clients in Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury Plains.
Manahi enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was posted to the 28th (Māori) Battalion, a unit raised under the auspices of leaders such as Sir Apirana Ngata and linked to recruiting drives across New Zealand. The battalion formed part of the 2nd New Zealand Division commanded by figures like Bernard Freyberg and fought under the overall command structures of the British Eighth Army and later in operations coordinated with the Allied invasion of Italy. Manahi saw action at the Battle of Greece, the Battle of Crete, the North African campaign, and the Italian campaign, including the Second Battle of El Alamein and the battles around Cassino where the 28th Battalion was heavily engaged alongside elements of the British Army, Polish II Corps, and United States Army formations.
Although the 28th Battalion is often associated with later battles, its lineage and cultural connections drew parallels with earlier New Zealand fighting traditions such as those evoked by veterans of the Gallipoli Campaign and soldiers who had served in the First World War. Manahi's contemporaries in the battalion included decorated figures like Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and leaders who liaised with commanders from New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries. During operations in Crete and subsequent actions his leadership and bravery began to attract official notice from divisional staff, brigade commanders, and war correspondents attached to units such as the 2nd New Zealand Division press sections and the New Zealand War Cabinet observers.
During the battle for the village of Torre dei Passeri and other forward actions in the Italian Campaign, Manahi carried out assaults and consolidations of positions that led his platoon through intense engagements with German formations including elements of the Wehrmacht and Fallschirmjäger units. His actions prompted a recommendation for the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth's highest award for valour, submitted through commanders within the New Zealand Military Forces and reviewed by officials in London and by the War Office. The recommendation was downgraded and he was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, a decision that provoked disquiet among veterans of the 28th (Māori) Battalion, members of Ngāi Tahu, and public figures including MPs from New Zealand Parliament and community leaders. Postwar advocacy for reconsideration involved campaigns by veterans' associations, inquiries referencing precedents such as the awards to soldiers like Charles Upham and interventions from politicians and heritage organisations. The issue also drew attention from journalists, historians researching the 2nd New Zealand Division, and national debates on recognition for indigenous service.
After demobilisation Manahi returned to New Zealand, settling in Timaru and later Christchurch, where he took up work in farming, labouring, and community roles within Māori networks and veterans' organisations. He remained active in ex-servicemen's groups, attending commemorations such as Anzac Day services and meetings of associations tied to the 28th (Māori) Battalion and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association. His story was the subject of coverage in national newspapers like the New Zealand Herald and the The Press, and examined by historians at institutions including the Alexander Turnbull Library and the National Library of New Zealand. Debates about his award nomination contributed to wider discussions on recognition for indigenous service across Commonwealth countries, alongside cases from Australia and Canada.
Manahi received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and campaign medals issued to members of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He has been commemorated at marae across South Canterbury and through plaques and exhibits in regimental displays at museums such as the Canterbury Museum and the National Army Museum. Annual remembrances by the 28th (Māori) Battalion veterans' organisation, ceremonies at rolls of honour in Christchurch and Temuka, and features in works by military historians and authors have solidified his legacy. The continuing interest from academics in institutions such as the University of Otago, the University of Canterbury, and the Victoria University of Wellington keeps his wartime record and the campaign for the Victoria Cross under scholarly review.
Category:1913 births Category:1986 deaths Category:New Zealand military personnel Category:28th (Māori) Battalion