Rangi Royal

Te Rangiātaahua Kiniwē Royal OBE MC (1896–1965) was a notable New Zealand tribal leader, land officer, Māori welfare officer, soldier, and sportsman. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tamaterā iwi. He was born in Muhunoa, Manawatū, New Zealand, in 1896.

During the Battle of Crete, leading two companies of the Māori Battalion, he overran the advance of the I Battalion, 141st Gebirgsjäger Regiment allowing the 5th New Zealand Brigade to escape. Once everyone was safe, he led a retreat 24 miles (39 km), allowing only two men to be killed, and eight wounded, all of whom were recovered.

In the 1964 New Year Honours, Royal was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Māori people.

Further reading

• Saunders, Hilary St. George (1959) [1949]. The Green Beret: The Commandos at War. Four Square Books. London: Landsborough Publications. OCLC 503725176.