7 Apr 1918, Whareponga, N.Z.

27 Mar 1943, Tebaga Gap, French Tunisia 

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1940-43
       (North Africa, Greece, Crete)

11 Feb 1940

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Killed In Action

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28th (Maori) Battalion

27 Mar 1943, Tebaga Gap, French Tunisia 

2nd Lieutenant

2nd Lieutenant

MINI BIO

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Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was born into Te Aitanga-a-Mate of Ngati Porou at Whareponga, on the East Coast.  He had strong connections to Te Whanau-a-Rakaiora, Te Aowera and Ngati Horowai. His mother was of Te Whanau-a-Apanui and was connected to 
Te Whakatohea. Through her, Moana’s ancestry is traced to the Mataatua canoe, and through an ancestor, Te Aomoengariki, to Te Arawa. Moana was a nephew of the well-known Ngati Porou woman of mana Materoa Reedy. Maraeake, the family home where he was born, is a short distance from Kirikiritatangi, on the foreshore, where young warriors of the area were trained in the art of warfare.
Outstanding at rugby he worked on the family farm after school..  He was developing his skills as a sheepfarmer, and was engaged to Hiria Walker, when WW2 began.  He enlisted and on 1 May 40 joined the Maori Battalion.  He was chosen for intelligence duties and became a Second Lieutenant and a platoon leader in the battalion’s C Company.
He was involved in heavy fighting in Greece, Crete and Libya.
27 Mar 43, he “displayed courage and leadership of the highest order, he was himself first on the hill crest, personally annihilating at least two enemy machine gun posts”’. He was killed in the action.
Ngarimu was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, determination and outstanding leadership. It was presented to his parents by the Governor General, Sir Cyril Newall,  at a hui at Ruatoria on 6 October 1943 attended by government leaders, diplomatic representatives and 7,000 Maori. The occasion was recorded by the National Film Unit and the films shown to Maori Battalion soldiers in Italy. 
His grandmother, Makere Ngarimu, died the night his Victoria Cross was presented..

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LONDON GAZETTE

No. 36040

1 June 1943

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The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Second-Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu.

"During the action at the Tebaga Gap on 26 March 1943, 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon in an attack upon the vital hill feature, Point 209. He was given the task of attacking and capturing an under-feature forward of Point 209 itself and held in considerable strength by the enemy. He led his men with great determination straight up the face of the hill, undeterred by the intense mortar and machine-gun fire, which caused considerable casualties. Displaying courage and leadership of the highest order, he was himself first on the hill crest, personally annihilating at least two enemy machine-gun posts. In the face of such a determined attack the remainder of the enemy fled, but further advance was impossible as the reverse slope was swept by machine-gun fire from Point 209 itself.

"Under cover of a most intense mortar barrage the enemy counter-attacked, and 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu ordered his men to stand to and engage the enemy man for man. This they did with such good effect that the attackers were virtually mown down, 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu personally killing several. He was twice wounded, once by rifle fire in the shoulder and later by shrapnel in the leg, and though urged by both his company and battalion commanders to go out, he refused to do so, saying that he would stay a little while with his men. He stayed until he met his death the following morning.

"Darkness found this officer and his depleted platoon lying on the rock face of the forward slope of the hill feature, with the enemy in a similar position on the reverse slope about twenty yards distant. Throughout the night the enemy repeatedly launched fierce attacks in an attempt to dislodge 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu and his men, but each counter-attack was beaten off by 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu's inspired leadership. During one of these counter-attacks the enemy, using hand grenades, succeeded in piercing a certain part of the line. Without hesitation this officer rushed to the threatened area, and those of the enemy he did not kill he drove back with stones and with his tommy-gun.

"During another determined counter-attack by the enemy, part of his line broke. Yelling orders and encouragement, he rallied his men and led them in a fierce onslaught back into their old positions. All through the night, between attacks, he and his men were heavily harassed by machine-gun and mortar fire, but 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu watched his line very carefully, cheering his men on and inspiring them by his personal conduct. Morning found him still in possession of the hill feature but only he and two unwounded other ranks remained. Reinforcements were sent up to him. In the morning the enemy again counter-attacked and it was during this attack that 2nd Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed. He was killed on his feet defiantly facing the enemy with his tommy-gun at his hip. As he fell he came to rest almost on top of those of the enemy who had fallen, the number of whom survived testified to his outstanding courage and fortitude.