Tuesday, April 25, is a significant day when New Zealanders can officially remember and acknowledge those who have gone before them.

Local Civic commemorations will begin with the Kaiuku Marae, Mahia, dawn service at 5:45am, followed by the Taihoa Marae service at 8:30am, the Frasertown Civic Service at 10am, and the Wairoa Civic Service at 11:45am.

Please note that times and the order of civic services have been changed this year to ensure that the morning is not rushed.

Wairoa Deputy Mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare said ANZAC Day is a time to reflect on the service that many people unselfishly gave to their country. “It is a time when people can pay their tributes and remember those who went before us.”

This ANZAC Day will be a significant time for the Kahungunu Marae at Nuhaka, which will celebrate its 75^th anniversary.

The marae was conceived post-WWII as a war memorial and opened in 1949. The Kahungunu Memorial Wharewhakairo was built as a monument to the men from the Nuhaka and Mahia areas who served their country in the two major World Wars and succeeding wars.

Young war veterans returned from the war in Egypt and Europe and carved many of the whakairo (carvings) in the marae under the tutelage of master carver Pine Taiapa. One of the marae carvings is of the unknown soldier, recognising all those who died in the war.

Marae committee member Leo Koziol said the marae was also funded by the Latter Day Saints Church, as Nuhaka was a national centre of the religion during WWII. Māori leaders like Sir Apirana Ngata rose up to support the development of the marae.

The Kahungunu Marae Anzac Day Service will be at 10am on April 25 and it is hoped a special guest speaker will attend.

Caption: The unknown soldier carving in Kahungunu Marae symbolises all those who served their country.

4 April 2024

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