Tau Paranihi
Born 9 Oct 1891 - Died 24 Apr 1984
- Service number
- WWI 16/407 AWMM
- Also known as
- Te Matau Paranihi AWMM
- Te Matau ParanihiPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 1st NZ Maori ContingentPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Last rank
- WW1 New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Tau AWMM
- Surname
- Paranihi AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Te Matau Paranihi AWMM
- Te Matau ParanihiPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records
- Service number
- WWI 16/407 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Raukawa ki Te Tonga, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngā Iwi o Tainui, Tainui, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- Roman CatholicPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 9 Oct 1891 Public Source
- Date of birth
- 9 Oct 1891Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Place of birth
- Rangitikei, NZPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Taumarunui, King Country, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Wairakau Paranihi, Taumarunui, New Zealand AWMM
- (wife)Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Relationship status
- Pre 14 Feb 1915 AWMM Married AWMM
- 1914 married Te Wairakau Timoti RaniorePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record & Research
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- Egyptian -GallipoliPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 1st NZ Maori ContingentPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Service number
- WWI 16/407 AWMM
- Military service
- 1914-1916Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
London Gazette 14/01/1916 AWMM - Victory Medal AWMM
- British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
London Gazette 28 January 1916, p1209 : In connection with the operations described in General I. Hamilton’s despatch AWMM - Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): Jan 1916 Private T Paranihi (Maori Contingent), For conspicuous gallantry on the 6th August. 1915, at Anzac. During an attack on Old No. 3 Post, although unarmed, he seized an armed Turk and compelled him to surrender.Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Press, Volume LII, Issue 15572, 24 April 1916, Page 2
- 1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal with (MiD) Oak Leaf Clasp: 11 Dec 1915 by Sir Douglas Haig for gallantry & distinguished servicePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1 Settler/Civilian AWMM
- 12 Nov 1914 at AvondalePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Age on enlistment
- 23yrs 7mthsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Private AWMM A Company AWMM 1st Maori Contingent AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion AWMM
- PrivatePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Tau's brother Winiata Paranihi (16/669) also served in WWI.
DCM. Bayonet wound to hand, Gallipoli. Returned to NZ , 25.9.15. Discharged Feb 1916. Died 1984. AWMM - Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 50246, 15 January 1916, Page 6
In the list of honours it will also be found that Private Tau Paranihi, of the first Maori Contingent, has the honour of being the first Maori who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for valour during the heavy fighting at the Gallipoli peninsula in the present war. Paranihi, who is a Wanganui boy, was invalided back and is at present a resident of the Rangitikei district. Some months ago we published an account of Paranihi's brave exploits which have won him this decoration.Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 50246, 15 January 1916, Page 6
- Tau's brother Winiata Paranihi (16/669) also served in WWI.
About death
- Death
- 24 Apr 1984 Public Source
- Date of death
- 24 April 1984Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record & BMD NZ Records
- Age at death
- 97yrsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record & BMD NZ Records
- Place of death
- Wanganui, NZPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record & BMD NZ Records
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- Te Matau Paranihi died 24 April 1984 in Wanganui aged 97yrs (born 10/10/1886)Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 11 March 2016 - Military Record & BMD NZ Records
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- Putiki Urupā, Putiki, WhanagenuiPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 9 February 2025 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/243063416/te_matau-paranihi
- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Related Serviceperson
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21383733
Further Reference - New Zealand Electronic Text Collection topic page
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/name-130192.html
Further Reference - Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20201108000000/https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-CowMaor.html
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 562 - Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 4: Includes portrait - Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
- 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).
- New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624.
- Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
- Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
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