Te Korehu Mary Mackie

Wounded Mata Soldier Returning Home - NORTHERN ADVOCATE, 28 JUNE 1941

Advice has been received that Pte. Rimi Paki, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Paki, of Mata, who was wounded in Crete, is returning to New Zealand. He received a gunshot wound in the left upper arm. Pte. Paki was a member of the well-known Takahiwai family, and was educated at Mata School. He was employed on the N.Z.R. Enlisting immediately recruits were called for the, Maori Battalion, he sailed with the ’ Second Echelon. He is - aged 21. Pte. Paki was a promising forward for Takahiwai League and Portland Rugby teams. His elder brother, Pte. William Paki, writing after the Greek campaign, told how Rimi and his uncle, Les Pirihi, were in a party which had to fight their way with the bayonet through an encircling ring of Germans.