Exhibition honours heroic Northlander

ANCESTOR: Coreen Patterson is Gordon Coates' niece and at 95, is his oldest living relative. PHOTO/ MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

He was a decorated war hero and New Zealand's first home-grown prime minister, and yesterday Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae paid tribute to Joseph Gordon Coates at the opening of a Northland exhibition dedicated to him.

A born-and-bred Matakohe man, Mr Coates - who came to be known as Gordon - was a councillor and chairman of the Otamatea County Council and a Member of Parliament for the Kaipara electorate from 1911 to 1943.

He received hero status when was released from Parliament in 1916 to serve in World War I with the Auckland Infantry Battalion on the Western Front in France and Belgium, returning in 1919 with two Military Crosses and the rank of Major.

He went on to become New Zealand's 21st prime minister - the first New Zealand-born - from 1925 to 1928.

"In my view, Northlanders and New Zealanders should be very proud of the contribution Gordon Coates made to this country," Sir Mateparae told the 70 people gathered at the opening of The Man from Matakohe exhibition at the Kauri Museum.

"His conduct and demeanour during his time in the public eye offers great examples of service to the country and the community, and a commitment to doing what's best for others.

"And it is superb to see him remembered in the way he is with this exhibition by the people of the region he represented so well.

"This event is a special one because it's about community - and there's a nationwide element to it.

When asked if he could imagine a politician leaving office to a fight in a world war in this day and age, Sir Mateparae said: "No I can't because I don't want there to be another world war." Also at the opening was Mr Coates' oldest living relative and niece, Coreen Patterson.

The 95-year-old lifetime Matakohe resident, who is one of the longest serving volunteers at the Kauri Museum, was elated to have her uncle celebrated with the exhibition, and opened by the Governor-General. "Naturally, it was an honour," she told the Northern Advocate.

Mrs Patterson could not pinpoint her favourite memory of Mr Coates, who died in 1943. "They're many. I just always enjoyed spending time with him."

The exhibition included items such as Gordon's sheep medals, Silver Spade, jewellery, a typewriter, as well as records such as cheque books and accounts.

Kauri Museum chief executive Lisa Tolich said the exhibition had taken two years to collate, after it was spearheaded by her predeccesor Betty Nelly. "Gordon Coates is a local celebrity in the area," she said.

The Otamatea Kauri and Pioneer Museum Board received support for the exhibition from the Coates family, Lottery World War I Commemorations - Environment and Heritage Committee, ASB Community Trust, Heritage NZ and Pouhere Taonga and Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Sir Mateparae was in Northland on a two-day visit, which included awarding two Queen Service Medals, and hosting a dinner for regional mayors on Thursday.

When asked what his favourite part of the trip was, he said:

"I have no favourite part, I think just coming up to the North and being able to meet with people and celebrate the things that happened in the past as well as things happening now."

Sir Mateparae presents QSMs, page 5