Prince honours Maori war hero

For God, for king and for country.
The deeds and gallantry of Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi were recognised in Ohinemutu on Saturday.
The World War II hero from Rotorua may have been passed over for a Victoria Cross, but for his whanau and Te Arawa iwi, there was atonement for its downgrading to a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York presented Sgt Manahi's sons with a special citation for bravery, an altar frontal cloth and a letter of tribute from the Queen. He also presented a sword on permanent loan from the royal collection in recognition of his brave actions. The sword was, in turn, passed by Te Arawa to the Chief of Defence.
Sgt Manahi, a member of the 28th Battalion's B Company, was recommended by his commanders in the field for a Victoria Cross, for his courageous actions during the 1943 battle of Takrouna Ridge in North Africa.
Four generals endorsed the VC but their recommendation was later altered to a Distinguished Conduct Medal, one step further down the awards ladder.
Attempts began in 1985 to have the perceived wrong righted when a committee led by the late Sir Charles Bennett, a former commander of the 28th Battalion, was formed to press for the original VC recommendation to be restored.
Defence minister Phil Goff, Te Arawa Representative Donna Hall and Norman Bennett, representing the Manahi VC Committee, visited the palace last July to personally deliver the submission to the Queen's private secretary.
While the Queen responded that she would not go against the 1949 decision of her father, King George VI, that no further World War II awards should be considered, she did say an alternative means of recognition should be bestowed.
"Her Majesty the Queen has personally asked me, nay commanded me, to convey her personal admiration for Lance Sergeant Manahi's bravery," Prince Andrew told the gathering.
The altar frontal (which has still to be embroidered), the Queen's letter and sword bearing Edward VII's cipher had been carefully chosen as gifts to echo the famous refrain of the 28th Battalion's marching song "For God, for king and for country".
Sgt Manahi is buried in the Muruika Cemetery behind St Faith's Church.
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