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Cenotaph Stories

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Cenotaph Stories

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Pacific

  • The Kokoda Legacy: New Zealanders among the ranks

    Matthew Nickless
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    New Zealand has always had a close military connection with Australia. This is the story of two New Zealanders who served with the Second Australian Imperial Force in one of Australia's most famous campaigns - the Kokoda Trail.

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  • The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Contingent

    Matthew Nickless
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    In 1918, twenty five members of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Native Police Force travelled to New Zealand to enlist for war. This is their odyssey.

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  • Ben Peckham: the advocate

    Ben Peckham served in the New Zealand Army from 1990 until 1997 including service in Bosnia. In this interview we consider his life before, during and after service. Ben's experience has made him a passionate advocate in the veteran support space. He believes the incredible wrap-around support he received during some of his hardest times should be the default experience for other personnel.

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  • Tongan Defence Force

    Nelson Bennett
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    The Tongan Defence Force was a major part of Tonga's response to the Second World War, a conflict that would result in massive change in the Kingdom. The Tongans generously opened their lands to the Allies, and the Tongan Defence Force played an important role both overseas and at home.

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  • Dean Anaki and the Merchant Marine

    Dr Andrea Low, Associate Curator, Contemporary World

    To commemorate Merchant Navy Day Dr Andrea Low interviewed Niuean born, Dean Lupo Anaki about his experience working in the New Zealand Merchant Navy from 1957 until 1973. You can see more of Dean’s story in Tāmaki Herenga Waka – Stories of Auckland.

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  • Stranded on Emirau

    Gail Romano, Associate Curator History

    The first large group of New Zealanders taken prisoner during the Second World War were not military personnel but civilians. On Merchant Navy Day, we remember these events in the south Pacific over the turn of 1940-41, as we reflect on the important, risky yet subsequently under-recognised role played by our merchant seamen during the First and Second World Wars.

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  • Uncle Bambi and the mystery of the travelling guitar

    Victoria Passau
    Collection Manager, Online Cenotaph

    Many Online Cenotaph staff have had an ongoing fascination with a series of photos of a guitar that have been attached to nearly 150 personnel records. This is the story Peter Utanga's guitar.

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  • Niuean Service Personnel

    List of identified Niuean Service personnel who have service with the New Zealand Armed Forces, during both the First World War, Second World War and later conflicts.

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  • Sani Lakatani

    Madison Pine
    Collection Technician, Research Support

    In June 2020, Madison sat down with the Malaya and Vietnam Veteran Sani Lakatani, to discuss his two major colourful careers with the New Zealand Army and in Niuean Politics.

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  • Tuakeo Terongo

    By Dan Millar and Madison Pine
    Collection Technicians, Research Support

    Amazingly the only known photograph of Cook Island soldier Private Tuakeo Terongo had re-emerged almost 100 years after his death.

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