Kia kaha 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. Kia kaha Kia kaha is a Māori phrase used by the people of New Zealand as an affirmation, meaning "stay strong". The phrase has significant meaning for Māori: popularised through its usage by the 28th Māori Battalion during World
Kia Motors stands for "(East) Asia"), it is roughly translated as "to come out of the east." Kia was founded in December 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea's first domestic bicycle, the Samchully, in 1951. In 1952, Kyungsung Precision Industry changed its name to Kia Industries, and later built Honda-licensed small motorcycles (starting in 1957), Mazda-licensed trucks (1962) and cars (1974). The company opened its first integrated automotive assembly plant in 1973, the Sohari Plant. Kia built the small Brisa range of cars until 1981, when production came to an end after