Last surviving commissioned officer of the Māori battalion has died.

He was a Dinkum Purler and in a Radio series of that name he speaks of his years growing up in the Chatham Islands, of his early Moriori ancestors and his time with Colonel Awatere at Casino during WWII and the horrors of that war.

I interviewed him just before the Millennium, and he was the most wonderful man, modest, unassuming, with a great sense of humour.

You can listen to the interview here: