Wikitoria Katene

Born 3 Feb 1912 - Died 20 Aug 2006

Service number: 72092 AWMM
Also known as: Wikitoria Te Huruhururu Whatu AWMM
Wikitoria Whatu AWMM
Wild Whatu AWMM
Stene AWMM
Wikitoria Te Huruhuru Katene AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW2 Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) WAACs (R22502074)
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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Wikitoria Katene — 72092 Sister Wikitoria Te Huruhuru (nee Katene) of Porirua. Wikitoria served in the Middle East. Photo from page 05 of album Photograph Album: Charles Bennett - WWII. New Zealand National Army Museum. Accession No. 2012.2.1 All Rights Reserved

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Biographical information

Sister of George Katene (6125) 28 Maori Battalion killed in Italy

NZ general Hospital Cairo, Italy, Egypt. Called the "Pride of the Maori Battalion" in "Loath to leave", Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 12

Photographs in Ordinary people kit

"SERVICE IN AUCKLAND ' The first Maori Red Cross W.A.A.C. to go overseas, Miss Wikitoria Katene, arrived at Auckland recently to begin work as a welfare officer for the Maori people. -While overseas Miss Katene, who served in both Egypt and Italy, spent a great deal of time visiting Maori soldiers and entertaining them in hospital wards. For the past few months she has been Working in Wellington, where the "new welfare scheme for the Maori people has been firmly established. From the beginning of this month more Maori girls will be appointed to this social service work as sectional officers, and tor a time will work under Miss Katenc’s tuition in Auckland. Miss Katene’s programme of reorganisation will include the improvement of housing conditions and the establishment of more hostels for young Maori girls. Her task will involve work with Branches of the Health Department, ihe Child Welfare Association, educational authorities, heads of business organisations and the Police Department." Maori Welfare Work. Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21993, 10 April 1946, Page 2 AWMM
The second story is of Private Wikitoria Te Huruhure Katene-Whatu
NZ War Nurse of Ngāti Toarangatira iwi and Ngāti Tu hapu
Her real name was Wikitoria Te Huruhuru Katene-Whatu but to many she became Aunty Wiki.
Born in Porirua on 3 February 1912, Wikitoria was the eldest child of Te Arohi Maraea Rose Poaneki (nee Te Momo) and Te Oti George Katene. Becoming known as Wiki, she was Ngāti Toarangatira iwi and Ngāti Tu hapu and was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon).
Wiki helped raise her 13 siblings, including her brother Te Oti George Katene Jnr, who would serve in WWII with the 28th Maori Battalion.
Wiki, a seamstress at the outbreak of WWII, joined the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, known as the Tuis, in 1941, entering Trentham Camp on 15 December that year.
She sailed on the NZ hospital ship Maunganui a week later, arriving in Egypt the following month, and in July 1942 was posted to the 2nd NZ General Hospital. Wiki quickly became a favourite of the staff and soldiers, taking patients on outings with lovely packed lunches.
Nurse Katene was shipped to Italy on 31 December 1943, learning of her brother George’s death near Orsonga, Italy, earlier that month.
Arriving back in New Zealand in April, 1945, she was officially discharged from duty in July and started work at the Rehabilitation Centre, helping returned servicemen to find employment and re-adjust to civilian life.
She met Douglas Whatu and they had one child, Mereana Whatu, who was stillborn.
Douglas died on 27 October, 1977, and is buried in the Takapūwāhia urupa.
Along with being mentioned in despatches for her service in WWII, Wiki was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for community service in 1992.
Wikitoria Te Huruhuru Whatu died in Porirua on 20 August, 2006, at the age of 94.
In 2008 a new building in the Whitireia Campus was officially named Te Whare o Wikitoria Te Huruhuru Katene Whatu, or Wikitoria Katene for short, in her honour.
It was noted she was "a courageous and brave woman who ventured out into the world and made a difference to the lives of many people.
Her spirit and courage reflect the wairua of her people (Ngāti Toa) and her caring, unselfish nature and willingness to work within the community reflects the Whitireia values of manaakitanga and partnership."
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 November 2024 - https://www.facebook.com/poriruawarstories/posts/2891304914474640/

Sources

External links: Command Performanc in Cairo. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 19 April 1943, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19430419.2.84
Further Reference
Maori Welfare Work. Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21993, 10 April 1946, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19460410.2.6
Further Reference
"Loath to leave", Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 12
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19450421.2.113.4
Further Reference
Staff - Staff WWSA [Women's War Service Auxiliary] hospital division organisation of women workers patriotic fund board - Middle East (Part 2). Archives New Zealand (R22438823)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22438823
Further Reference
Cenotaph Story, Wikitoria Te Huruhuru Whatu: "My Māori Florence".
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/wikitoria-te-huruhuru-whatu
Further Reference
Recordng of Wiki Katene from 1942 https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/17321/
Public - Sarah - Researcher - 22 February 2025 - [U-series. Christmas at a New Zealand General Hospital] Recording made by NZ Broadcasting Unit at No.2 NZ General Hospital, Egypt.
References: Ordinary people kit : New Zealanders remember the Second World War. [resource kit]. (1995). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs.
Service Women Project: Sponsorship to research this record was kindly provided by the Auckland Returned Services Association, Returned Servicewomen's Branch; Marjorie Traill, Dorothy Grant, Daphne Shaw and Margaret Woollett.
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1942). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 6 (Embarkations from 1st October, 1941 to 31st December, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
p.20
Iwi, Hapū, Rohe and additional whakapapa information kindly provided from “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
Ngāti Raukawa in World War 2 - 1939-1945 & further (credit to Reuben Waaka, Diane Taylor, Te Kenehi Teira). Part of “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
WAAC [Women's Auxiliary Army Corps] - Lists - Overseas Information [including Strength Returns and Embarkation Rolls] (1943 - 1945) - Archives New Zealand, Wellington, (R22502074)
Staff - Staff WWSA [Women's War Service Auxiliary] hospital division organisation of women workers patriotic fund board - Middle East (Part 2). Archives New Zealand (R22438823)

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