discuss document export feedback print share Report a story Record Werewere Charu Rakuraku Contributor Leanne Relationship Other relative Date Posted 6 March 2019 Note Werewere Rakuraku - the son of Tū Paiaka and Putiputi Rakuraku. Born August 24th, 1923 and raised in the Waimana Valley within Te Urewera. He’d had three months with the Homeguard at Matatā and signed up at Avondale to serve with the 28th Māori Battalion in May 1944. He was 20 years and 8 months old and only 5’4”. He passed the medical with a Grade 1 health rating. Not surprisingly, Werewere couldn't ride a motorbike but he could ride a horse. At the time of enlisting Werewere had been living in Auckland and working at Southdown Freezing works. Not long in camp at Papakura and Trentham and Werewere was off to war with the 12th Reinforcements. His nephew Paora Rakuraku was with him. They both left Wellington on the HMT Highland Princess on June 29th, 1944 arriving in Port Tewfik, Egypt on August 2nd 1944. He was marched into the NZ Maori Training Depot at Maadi on August 8th, 1944. He Your reason for reporting this contribution Your name Your email address Cancel