A special ceremony is being held this morning in Wellington to unveil the Pacific Islands Memorial at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. The Memorial, Te Reo Hotunui o te Moana nui a Kiwa, will represent New Zealand’s enduring friendship with the Pacific Islands, and acknowledges the service of Pacific soldiers who fought for New Zealand in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and members of the Diplomatic Corp will be representing the Pacific nations as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveils the Memorial. Local iwi will also be in attendance.
The design by artist Michel Tuffery MNZM depicts a bronze conch shell, a symbol deeply rooted in Pacific cultures, which will have a patina finish with remembrance poppies. The deep sigh of the Pacific recalls the conch shell left in the Arras Tunnels by Kuki Airani (Cook Island) soldiers of The New Zealand Tunnelling Company and the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion, who was stationed beneath the town of Arras, France during 1916 to 1918.
The Livestream is thanks to The Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
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