RNZ journalist Ashleigh McCaull with her brother Callum McCaull and nan Kath Bennett outside St Faith’s Church.
Photo: Ashleigh McCaull

First person – Almost two weeks ago, Sir Robert “Bom” Gillies, the last remaining member of the Maori battalion, died. RNZ journalist Ashleigh McCaullwho has whānau and lineage connections, reports on their tangihanga.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of covering Sir Robert Gillies’ tangihanga at home in Rotorua, at a time when Māoridom is facing tumultuous times.

Also known as “Bom”, he was the last member of the 28th Māori Battalion, serving in B Company from 1942 to 1945.

He died on November 7 at the age of 99. buried Tuesday at Kauae Cemetery alongside his wife.

Service of Sir Robert Gillies at Te Papaiouru Marae in Rotorua.
Photo: RNZ

Hikoi mō te Tiriti also coincided with his tangi during his last two days, but regardless, hundreds of people arrived to pay their last respects.

Reporting on her tangi was a very special experience for many different reasons, including cultural, through lineage and whānau connections.

This was the first report from my own marae and hometown in Rotorua in my 8 year career, and that realization in the car was quite overwhelming.

It was like a full circle, because I had the privilege of a report on his knighthood about two and a half years ago as my first story when I started at RNZ.

Sir Robert Gillies has died aged 99.
Photo: New Zealand Defense Force

Opposite Te Papaiouru Marae is St Faith’s Church where Sir Robert Gillies spent much time and where my great-great-grandfather, Frederick Augustus Bennett, is buried.

He was the first Māori Anglican bishop in New Zealand and I am descended from his second wife Arihia Bennett.

One of his sons, Sir Charles Bennett, was a lieutenant-colonel and fought alongside Tā Gillies in the 28th Māori Battalion.

My great-grandfather was his brother, Paratene Bennett, who, like many young men at the time, lied about his age and enlisted in the Royal English Navy.

This church was also where I was baptized as a baby.

My grandfather Camera McCaull was also good friends with Sir Bom’s son, also named Robert Gillies.

I remember one year Tā Gillies’ son and his son’s wife came to our house to celebrate my brother and grandfather’s combined birthday party.

This friendship also extended to my great-grandmother, Iri McCaull.

Driving to Rotorua on Monday from Wellington, I stopped at Taupo where I met my dad for lunch and he reminisced about when he was six years old, spending Christmas at Tā Gillies with my nanny Iri at them.

During the tangi, I felt the true essence of Te Arawa as the haukāinga of Ngāti Whakaue entertained manuhiri through waiata and kapa haka, whether while eating lunch or while waiting for the Tā Bom service to begin.

Hundreds of people gathered on Monday to bid farewell to Sir Robert Gillies.
Photo: Ashleigh McCaull

There was much kōrero about how he fought for Māori soldiers to be recognized for their service in World War II and spoke out against the unfair treatment he and other Māori soldiers received upon their return at their home.

Speaking to Returned Services Association president Sir Wayne “Buck” Shelford during his tangi, Sir Wayne also acknowledged that there is still underlying racism and discrimination in RSAs across the country.

Some of Sir Robert Gillies’ wishes were granted during his lifetime, including a battle honors flag from the 28th Māori Battalion. who flew for the first time last year at Waitangi and proudly at her tangi.

Just days before his death, Defense Force Major General Rose King visited him at his home where she informed him that the Māori contingent had finally been recognized with battle honors inscribed on the ceremonial flags.

With Hikoi mō te Tiriti expected to descend on Parliament’s footsteps on Tuesday While many Māori oppose the Treaty Principles Bill and government policies that affect Māori, Sir Robert Gillies’ fight for fair treatment of Māori continues, almost 80 years after he fought for the Second World War.