Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
The late Lance Corporal Hingangaroa Smith’s World War II medals have been stolen, just days before Anzac Day, leaving his whānau searching for their return.
His grandson, Sergeant Takirirangi Hingangaroa Smith is continuing the search for the missing taonga, after discovering they were gone while moving from his old home in East Christchurch. He is the guardian of the medals following his koro’s passing.
The medals were kept alongside personal items, including documents and military memorabilia, that were also taken.
Takirirangi says the realisation came during a conversation with his brother regarding Anzac Day fast approaching.
“We were talking about our koro… then we realised, I think his medals were in that same folder with all those other items that were taken.”
The loss is especially painful as Takirirangi had planned to wear the medals alongside his own, in honour of his koro.
“Never worn them before - this was going to be my first ANZAC,” he says.
HINGANGAROA TE TANGATA, HINGANGAROA TE HŌIA.
Hingangaroa’s son, Māori academic, Prof. Graham Hingangaroa Smith, says his father’s service carries a unique history. He enlisted under a different name, using his grandfather’s birth certificate, making him one of the few recorded under two identities, Major Jackson and Hingangaroa Smith.
“He would always say he was very lucky to come home,” Graham recounts. “His heart has always been with those who were left behind overseas.”
Police say they occasionally receive reports of stolen medals, but these incidents are not considered part of a wider trend.
For the Smith whānau, however, this is not the first time such a loss has been felt. Graham says medals belonging to his own grandfather were also stolen in the past and later appeared for sale online.
“It was particularly hard to take… some of the whānau tried to get them back but missed out,” he says.
WHĀIA I NGĀ TAPUWAE.
Takirirangi Smith says while most of his whānau pursued education, he felt drawn to follow in his koro’s footsteps, eventually joining the military himself.
“I always knew as a kid that it was going to happen… I’d eventually join up,” he says. “It was the actions of our koro and other whānau members who served that inspired me.”
While the medals may hold little monetary value to others, their significance to the whānau is deeply personal.
Graham says, “It’s more sentimental than anything… but it’s important that my nephew gets them back.”
Takirirangi is appealing to the public for any information that could help recover the medals.
“Even if you do have them, it would be greatly appreciated if our whānau could get them back.”
He remains hopeful that the medals will be returned so he can wear his grandfather’s them alongside his own, with pride.
For any information contact police line 105 and case reference 260412/0431
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Kua whānakohia ngā mētara pakanga nui o te ao tuarua o Lance Corporal Hingangaroa Smith, i mua i te rā o ANZAC, ā, ka waiho mai ko tōna whānau hei kimi i ngā taonga.
Ko tōna mokopuna, a Sergeant Takirirangi Hingangaroa Smith, e kimi tonu ana i ngā taonga whai muri i te kāhakina o ngā mētara mai i tōna whare tawhito ai i te rāwhiti o Ōtautahi. Koia rā te kaipupuri o ngā taonga nō muri mai i te rironga o tōna koro.
He pepa nō te kauhanga riri, he pūmahara kaingārahu hoki kua whānakohia, ā, e noho ana ēnei taputapu i te taha o ngā mētara.
E ai ki a Takirirangi, i taka mai te kapa i a ia e kōrero ana ki tōna tungāne i mua i te rā o ANZAC.
“We were talking about our koro… then we realised, I think his medals were in that same folder with all those other items that were taken.”
He ngarohanga kua titia nei ki a Takirirangi, ā, ko tōna hiahia kia whakamaua i ngā mētara hei whakahōnore i tōna koro.
HINGANGAROA TE TANGATA, HINGANGAROA TE HŌIA.
Ko tā Ahorangi Graham Hingangaroa Smith, he hītori whakahirahira tā tōna koro me tōna mahi ratonga. I kuhu atu ia i raro i tētahi ingoa rereke, mā te whakamahi i ngā pepa whānautanga o tōna koroua. Nā tērā, e rua ngā tuakiri, ko Major Jackson rāua ko Hingangaroa Smith.
“He would always say he was very lucky to come home,” E hoki ana ngā mahara o Graham. “His heart has always been with those who were left behind overseas.”
E ai ki ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa, he nui ngā rīpoata o ngā mētara, heoi, ehara i te mea he rite tonu te kāhaki
Heoi anō mō te whānau Smith, ehara tēnei i te wā tuatahi kua rongo rātou i tēnei mamae. E ai ki a Graham, i te tau kua hori, i whānakohia ngā mētara o tōna ake koroua me te mea hoki, kua whakairihia ki te whārangi ipurangi hei hoko atu.
“It was particularly hard to take… some of the whānau tried to get them back but missed out,” hei tāna.
WHĀIA I NGĀ TAPUWAE.
Hei tā Takirirangi Smith, ko te nuinga o tōna whānau i whāia i te ara mātauranga, heoi, ko tōna hiahia kia whāia ngā tapuwae o tōna koro. Nāwai rā, i uru atu e ia ki Ngāti Tūmatauenga.
“I always knew as a kid that it was going to happen… I’d eventually join up,” ko tāna. “It was the actions of our koro and other whānau members who served that inspired me.”
Ahakoa he ngoikore ā-putea nei ngā mētara ki ngā tangata rerekē, engari anō, ka noho motuhake ēnei mētara ki te ngākau o te whānau.
Hei tā Graham, “It’s more sentimental than anything… but it’s important that my nephew gets them back.”
He inoi tā Takirirangi ki te hāpori mō ngā kōrero hei whakaora anō ngā mētara.
“Even if you do have them, it would be greatly appreciated if our whānau could get them back.”
Me tōna manako ka hoki mai ēnei mētara kia whakamaua ngā mētara ki te taha o ōna ake mētara.
Inā kei te mōhio i ngā kōrero o te wā, waea atu ki ngā pirihimana 105 me te tapiri te tohutoro 260412/0431