By Johnson Raela
100 white crosses etched with the names of Cook Islands soldiers are attracting attention in the Wellington suburb of Newlands.
The cancellation of public ANZAC Day services due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown hasn’t stopped Cook Islander Grace Hutton from commemorating the occasion.
Grace and her husband Terry assembled the crosses outside their house, in memory of Cook Island soldiers who served in world wars.
“Since the commemorations were cancelled and the Pacific Memorial unveiling was postponed, we decided to put the crosses up, and I was quite emotional after I saw them all out there.”
Members of the community have taken a keen interest in the display, with many stopping to take photos.
“One particular gentleman, an Asian man, stopped his car and bowed to the crosses and saluted them before driving off.”
The crosses, which were stored in her garage, were used as part of commemoration ceremony on Parliament grounds in 2015 and 2016.
On Saturday morning during the nationwide #StandAtDawn commemoration, an army soldier will play ‘The Last Post’ next to the crosses.
“I’ve told some people around my neighbourhood and they’ll be able to stand outside their homes and hear The Last Post being played and remember those that served our country.”
Among the names on the crosses are Te Aurahi Kora from Aitutaki and Pute Manga from Rarotonga. Both were part of the 1st Māori contingent that fought at Gallipoli.
A name also amongst the crosses is Sergeant George Karika. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for “conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in command of a platoon”, the highest award to a Pacific person in WWI.
