Wiremu Herewini was born at Oparure and educated at Te Kuiti District High School and Te Aute College. He worked with M. R. Jones in real estate in Taranaki until 1939 when he enlisted in the Taranaki Company of the 19th Battalion. He later joined the 28th Māori Battalion. In 1940, he was sent to London, the Middle East and Greece as a second lieutenant to the anti-aircraft platoon. In Greece, he was taken prisoner and spent four years in a POW camp until liberation by General Patton’s troops in April 1945. When he returned to New Zealand, Herewini worked as Māori rehabilitation officer in the Hamilton district for two years. In 1947, he became a Māori welfare officer in Hamilton and later was transferred to Auckland. In 1956, he was appointed assistant controller of Māori welfare based in Wellington and in 1959 became controller. In 1966, he went on a three-week tour of South-East Asia as a member of the Dominion Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services Association. He became executive director of social services in the Department of Māori Affairs in 1973, was a Porirua city councillor in 1980, and became Porirua’s deputy-mayor in 1983.
Biographical sources
- Te Ao Hou 51 (1965): 30-31.
- "Mr W. Herewini Visits New Zealand Servicemen." Te Ao Hou 55 (1966): 48-50.
- Tu Tangata 24 (1985): 14.
- Sorenson, Klaus. "Up Through the Ranks." Te Māori 5.4 (1973): 14-17.
Reviews
- Rev. of The Invasion of Waikato, by Harold Miller. Te Ao Hou 49 (1964): 55.
Traditional
- "Brigadier George Dittmer." Te Kaea: The Māori Magazine 1 (1979): 3.
- A tribute to the first commanding officer of the Māori Battalion, Brigadier George Dittmer, and an outline of his military career. `
Other
- "People and Places." Te Ao Hou 51 (1965): 28-31.
- "Mr W. Herewini Visits New Zealand Servicemen." Te Ao Hou 55 (1966): 48-50.
- Jaram, Wishie. "Two Retirements: Wiremu Parker. Wiremu Herewini." Te Kaea: The Māori Magazine 2 (1980): 6-7.
- Sorenson, Klaus. "Up Through the Ranks." Te Māori 5.4 (1973): 14-17.
- A biographical portrait of Herewini and a discussion of his work as executive director of social services in the Department of Māori Affairs.
- Martin, Judith. "Bill Herewini." Tu Tangata 24 (1985): 14.