Army's 28th (Māori) Battalion. Numerous schools use Kia kaha as, or as part of, their mottoes, including Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay (Whakatangata kia kaha); Tikipunga High School, Whangarei (Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui); Golden Bay High School, Takaka (Ake ake kia kaha); Rotorua Intermediate School, Rotorua (Kia kaha, kia maia); and Rosehill Intermediate School, Papakura (Whaia kia kaha) and Te Awamutu Te Awamutu College, Kingwood Park High school (Kia Kaha) and Richmond Primary School (Kia Kaha). Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles (QAMR), an armoured regiment based at Waiouru, also uses Ake Ake Kia Kaha as its motto. Kia kaha is also used in the film Forever Strong, and is the motto of the Highland High School rugby team which features in the film. Christchurch Earthquake When the 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch on 22 February 2011, following 4 September 2010 earthquake, Kia Kaha became the iconic phrase used by family and friends supporting the city in their time of need. The New Zealand Herald reported the use of the phrase by Prince William at a memorial service on 18 March 2011 "drew applause and tears from tens of thousands of mourners". A video made by New Zealanders living in New York included the phrase in a message to their loved ones in Christchurch. Christchurch mosque shootings Kia Kaha was used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their statements after the Christchurch mosque shootings. Prince William used the term twice after the Christchurch tragedy. References Māori words and phrases New Zealand culture