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We look after a range graves and memorials, both in New Zealand and overseas. These memorials and graves acknowledge significant aspects of our nation’s history including disasters, conflicts and prominent leaders.

We also have a role as the New Zealand agent for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and about the history and locations of memorials, historical graves and war graves.

National Memorials

The Ministry has 20 National Memorials in its care. Eight of these memorials are located overseas.

A national memorial is determined by the New Zealand Government when it is deemed appropriate to recognise an event, relationship or individual that has had a significant impact on the nation.

National memorials in New Zealand

  • Abel Tasman National Monument (under the care of the Department of Conservation)
  • Atatürk Memorial situated above Tarakena Bay, Wellington.
  • Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial
  • Coates Memorial Church, Matakohe, Northland
  • Cook Monument, Kopu Bridge, Thames (currently offsite due to vandalism)
  • Fraser Memorial, Karori Cemetery, Wellington and Peter Fraser Statue, Wellington
  • Holyoake Memorial, Wellington
  • Kirk Memorial, Waimate
  • Massey Memorial, Wellington
  • Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington
  • Savage Memorial, Auckland
  • Seddon Memorial, Wellington
  • Tangiwai Memorial, Karori Cemetery, Wellington
Links for more information

National memorials overseas

  • Chunuk Bair, Türkiye
  • Jean Batten Memorial, Majorca
  • Le Quesnoy, France
  • Messines, Belgium
  • Longueval, France
  • New Zealand Memorial in Korea
  • New Zealand Memorial in London
  • S'Gravenstafel, Belgium.
Links for more information

War graves

War graves are for those who died on active service or a consequence of injury or illness from their war service within the qualifying time period.

The Ministry cares for following war graves throughout New Zealand and the Pacific:

New Zealand Wars Graves

These are graves of casualties of the New Zealand Wars who died in conflict during the critical 1840-1872 period. They are located throughout New Zealand. They include British military, colonist, Māori and non-combatant graves and memorials.

Below is a list of New Zealand Wars Grave sites that we care for and links to further Information on these sites.

Alexandra Redoubt, Tūākau Cemetery

Location: Tūākau

Sites we care for:

  • Memorial obelisk commemorating casualties of New Zealand Wars 1863–1864.
  • Three concreted graves of New Zealand Wars casualties; Berry, Grace and Williams.

Alexandra Redoubt, Tūākau Cemetery (NZHistory)

Bolton Street Cemetery

Location: Bolton Street, Wellington.

Drury Presbyterian Churchyard Cemetery

Location: Great South Road, Drury

Site we care for:

Grave of Pte John Mckay, 65th Regt, died 14 September 1863.

Heads Road Cemetery

Location: Whanganui

Sites we care for:

  • Lt Col Jason Hassard, 57th Regt, died 15 January 1866
  • Lt Octavius R Lawson and Ensign George Chrichton Jenkins, 18th Royal Irish Regt, died 18 December 1865
  • Pte William Stone, No 16 Engineers, died 23 December 1866
  • Shoeing Smiths J Laycock, died 10 March 1866 and J Barnett, died 29 November 1865, 4th Bde, Royal Artillery
  • Lt Thomas Ormsby Johnstone, 40th Regt, died 25 January 1865
  • Ensign William Alexander, 65th Regt, died 1 November 1861
  • Lt Henry Boyle Hunter, died 7 September 1868 and Major William Magee Hunter, died 7 November 1868
  • William Jenkins, Native Interpreter, died 12 May 1867
  • Frederick Wemyss, 65th Regt, died 3 July 1858
  • Ensign Robert Whitfield, Forest Rangers, died 13 March 1865
  • Captain James Duff Hewett, died January 1865
  • Sergeant George Maxwell, Kai-Iwi Volunteer Cavalry, killed Nukumaru, 1869
  • Constable George Lewis Cole, Armed Constabulary, died 11 November 1868 from wounds received at Moturoa on 7 November 1868
  • Gilfillan family, killed 18 April 1847.

Heads Road Cemetery (NZHistory)

Heads Road Catholic Cemetery

Location: Whanganui

Sites we care for:

  • Lt William Masterson, Royal Engineers, died 29 September 1865
  • Michael Forbes, 53rd Regt.

Heads Road Cemetery (NZHistory)

Hirini Street Cemetery

Location: Gisborne

  • Grave of Captain Duncan Michie Brown
  • Grave of Chief Te Kani Hirini.
Horokiwi Valley Graves

Location: Battle Hill Farm Park, Pāuatahanui

Horokiwi Valley Graves (NZHistory)

Huirangi Memorial Cross

Location: Waitara Road

Located on private land. Contact us if you require more details.

Huirangi Memorial Cross (NZHistory)

Kainaha Cemetery

Location: Mataatua Road, Ruatahuna

Sites we look after:

  • Two mass graves of New Zealand Wars
  • Memorial to Native Auxiliaries of HM Forces who died on 7 May 1869 and 8 May 1869
  • Memorial to Armed Constabulary killed at Orangikawa Pa

Kainaha Cemetery (NZHistory)

Katikara Memorial

Location: Fort St George Redoubt, Lower Pitone Road, Tātaraimaka, Taranaki

Site we look after:

Memorial to mark the grave of more than 20 Māori warriors who were killed in the Battle of Katikara on 4 June 1863. The warriors came from several iwi including Taranaki, Ngati Ruanui and Whanganui.

Katikara Memorial (NZHistory)

Leamington Cemetery

Location: Wordsworth Street, Leamington, Cambridge

Lower Mauku Cemetery

Location: Glenbrook Road near Patumahoe

Mahoetahi Cross

Location: at junction of State Highway 3A and road to Waitara, New Plymouth

Makaraka Cemetery

Gisborne

Sites we look after:

  • Matawhero Memorial
  • Waerenga-a-Hika Memorial

Matawhero Memorial (NZHistory)

Waerenga-a-Hika Memorial (NZHistory)

Maketu (St Thomas’s) Churchyard

Location: Pukemiro Hill, Maketu

Site we look after:

Winiata Pekanui Memorial

Winiata Pekanui Memorial (NZHistory)

Manaia Land Wars Monument

Location:on west side of Octagon, Manaia township

Marumaru (Grave of Captain William A Hussey)

Location: Located on private land. Contact us if you require more details.

Site we look after:

Grave of Captain William A Hussey

Moutoa Memorial

Location: Moutoa Gardens, Market Place, Whanganui

Site we look after:

Marble statue of sorrowing woman, commemorating Māori killed at Moutoa Island defending Whanganui

Moutoa Memorial (NZHistory)

Napier Old Cemetery

Location: Hospital Hill, Napier

Sites we look after:

  • Captain John Chapman St George, died 1869
  • Sgt William Farrell, died 1864
  • Thomas Stanley, died 1864 (wooden headboard)
  • Thomas Mason, died 1866 (wooden headboard)
  • Henry Morrison, died 1866 (wooden headboard).
New Plymouth (St Mary’s) Churchyard

Location: Vivian Street, New Plymouth

Sites we look after:

  • Spr George Chubb, Royal Engineers, 23 January 1861
  • Seaman Henry Sargent, HMS Pelorus, 6 August 1860
  • Pte Thomas Millard, Royal Marines, HMS Niger, 28 March 1860
  • Edward Archer, 12th Regt and others: Joseph Woodward, Michael Carden, 40th Regt; Henry East, 57th Regt; George May, John Bland, John Jones, George Willis, Edwin Gillet and John Maguire
  • Lt Thomas H Tragett, 57th Surg, W A Hope, Col Sgt Samuel Ellers, 57th, Sgt Samuel Hill, Pte William Banks
  • Lt E C McNaghten, Royal Artillery, 17 March 1861
  • Capt Thomas Strange, 65th Regt, 10 February 1861
  • Lt Denis Jackson, 40th Regt, 23 January 1861
  • Francis Brown, Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Corps, 6 November 1860
  • Pte Edward Messenger, Taranaki Volunteers, 3 March 1861
  • John E. Sarten, Taranaki Mounted Volunteers, 17 March 1860
  • Richard Brown, Taranaki Volunteer Rifles, 22 August 1860
  • Pte Henry Crann, Taranaki Volunteer Rifles, died August 1860
  • Hugh Corbin Harris, Taranaki Volunteers
  • Ephraim Coad, 17 August 1860
  • Pte Francis Rooney, 65th Regt, 6 November 1860
  • Colour Sgt Samuel Scammell, 65th Regt, 18 April 1861
  • Capt. William Cutfield King, Taranaki Militia, died 8 February 1861
  • Memorial to Māori Chiefs (Vicarage grounds)
  • Memorial to Taranaki Militia and Volunteers.
Ngāruawāhia Public Cemetery

Location: Western side of State Highway 1 about one kilometre south of Ngāruawāhia

Sites we look after:

Communal grave with four markers

  • Marble obelisk about 2.5m high, commemorating L/Cpl William Hewitt, died 9 April 1864, Cpl Thomas Hill died 22 February 1864, William Hammell, 65th Regt died 2 February 1864 and others who fell in the New Zealand Wars
  • Sandstone headstone commemorating Lance Sgt Freeman Jamieson, Army Hospital Corps, who died 19 May 1864, which also has a footstone.
  • Marble plaque commemorating Pte Thomas Maisey, 18th Royal Irish Regt
  • Marble plaque commemorating William George Poole, Bugler, Mounted Constabulary, New Zealand Wars

Ngāruawāhia Public Cemetery (NZHistory)

Ngawha (St Michael’s) Māori Churchyard

Location: About three kilometres south-west of Ōhaeawai on State Highway 12

Site we look after:

A stone cross erected by Māori to commemorate the Pākehā enemy in an engagement in 1845.

Ngawha (St Michael’s) Māori Churchyard (NZHistory)

Nukumaru Memorial

Location: sited under the Veterans’ Steps, Queens’s Park, Whanganui

Site we look after:

Memorial to soldiers killed in the New Zealand Wars 1865–1869.

Ōhawe Military Cemetery

Location: Located on private land. Contact us if you require more details.

Ōhawe Military Cemetery (NZHistory)

Ōkaihau (St Catherine’s) Churchyard

Location: just west of Ōkaihau settlement on the road to Horeke, Northland

Site we look after:

Memorial erected by the New Zealand Government in 1891 to soldiers who lost their lives in an attack on one of Heke’s pas. Monument comprises a two-metre-high bluestone cross on a plinth with a marble inscription panel.

Ōkaihau (St Catherine’s) Churchyard (NZHistory)

Old Taupiri Road Memorial

Location: Ngāruawāhia

Site we look after:

Memorial comprising of a 2.5-metre high polished grey granite plinth and obelisk. It commemorates those who died in the New Zealand Wars and was erected by the New Zealand Government in 1914.

Old Taupiri Road Monument (NZHistory)

Onepoto Grave

Location: beside Lake Kiriopukae, Lake Waikaremoana

Site we look after:

Grave of trooper Michael Noonan who was a dispatch rider killed during the New Zealand Wars.

Opepe Reserve Cemetery

Location: on the Napier-Taupo Road about 12 km from Taupo

Sites we look after:

Five graves. Some are for those killed in the attack at Opepe on 7 June 1869

  • Sgt Michael Slattery, and Troopers Ernest Lawson, Joseph Bidois, John Cook, Charles Johnson, who died 7 June 1869 (Fred Gill also named on grave, but later exhumed and buried in Old Military Cemetery, Tauranga)
  • Troopers Hector Ross, Alex McKillop and Charles Potier, died 7 June 1869
  • W Turner, died 27 October 1874
  • Edward Andrehen, Armed Constabulary, died 7 October 1875
  • Henry Leslie, Armed Constabulary, died 23 March 1876.

Opepe Memorial (NZHistory)

Opotiki (Kelly Street) Cemetery

Location: Opotiki

Site we look after:

Marble obelisk to those who died in the New Zealand Wars:

  • Grave of Robert Pitcairn, Surveyor
  • Grave of Pte James Keiley
  • Grave of Pte Hansen, Pte Thomas M Brown, Pte Patrick Parsons, Pte Charles Ratsey, Tpr William C Fuller, Tpr F Ross.
Ōrākau Battle Memorial

Location: Arapuni Road out from Kihikihi

Site we look after:

Memorial comprising a grey granite obelisk commemorating the battle of Ōrākau, 31 March and 1 and 2 April 1864.

Ōrākau Battle Memorial (NZHistory)

Omata (John Hurford grave)

Location: on roadside near Omata School, Taranaki

Site we look after:

Grave of a settler, John Hurford, who was killed in the New Zealand Wars on 2 August 1860.

Ōtāhuhu (Holy Trinity) Churchyard

Location: Ōtāhuhu

Sites we look after:

  • Plaques marking three mass graves of the New Zealand Wars servicemen “who served their Queen and country 1863–1865”
  • Grave of Lt John Thornton Down VC, 57th Regt, died 27 April 1866
  • Grave of Major Walter Vernon Herford, 3rd Waikato Militia
  • Staff Assistant Surgeon John Anderson, died 12 April 1865
  • Captain Oates Joseph Travers, 70th Regt, died 4 December 1864
  • Staff Surgeon Robert Storey, Royal Artillery, died 7 February 1865
  • Lt Col John Gray, late 40th Regt of Foot
  • Colour Sgt William Fogarty, 65th Regt
Paihia (St Paul’s) Church

Location: Paihia

Site we look after:

Bronze plaque over the remains of five 96th Regt soldiers killed 11 March 1845: Ptes Duross, Giddens, Ireson, Jackson and Miller.

Papakura Public Cemetery

Location: Great South Road, Papakura, Auckland

Site we look after:

Grave of Captain Augustus Bressan Calvert, late of the Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry and 2nd Dragoon Guards, died 3 July 1865, and his son, Sylvester Devenish Calvert, killed in the New Zealand Wars, 24 July 1863.

Papakura Public Cemetery (NZHistory)

Patea Public Cemetery

Location: Scotland Street, Patea

Site we look after:

Grave of W C Broughton, Interpreter to the Forces, New Zealand Wars, killed at Kakaramea on 1 October 1865.

Pāterangi Land Wars graves

Location: on road to Pirongia. Located on private land. Contact us if you require further details.

Site we look after:

Two-metre high, grey granite obelisk commemorating Privates John McDoole, Michael Cahill, Henry Blake and George Cooper, 40th Foot, 2nd Somerset Regt; and James Cussen and William Bane, of Queen’s Own Regt, killed in action at Waiari on 11 February 1864.

Pāterangi Land Wars graves (NZHistory)

Pokeno Historic Cemetery

Location: Junction of Munro and Helenslee Roads, Pokeno

Sites we look after:

White pyramidal cairn commemorating those who died in the New Zealand Wars 1863–64, plus grave of Horton and Loader, whose names are also on the cairn.

Pokeno Historic Cemetery (NZHistory)

Pukekohe East Churchyard

Location: Runciman Road, Pukekohe East, Auckland

Site we look after:

Mass grave of six Māori who died in an engagement on 14 September 1863.

Pukekohe East Churchyard (NZHistory)

Queen’s Park Memorial (Lion Monument)

Location: base of Veterans’ Steps, Whanganui

Site we look after:

Memorial in the shape of a lion mounted on a tall rectangular plinth commemorating those from the district in H M Imperial Army, Navy and Colonial Forces killed in the New Zealand Wars.

Queen’s Park Memorial (NZHistory)

Rangiriri Cemetery

Location: Rangiriri, near Huntly

Sites we look after:

Two New Zealand Wars memorials commemorating Army and Navy personnel, and individual graves of 46 British servicemen, who died in the Battle of Rangiriri, 20 November 1863.

Rangiriri Cemetery (NZHistory)

Rangitukia soldiers’ graves

Location: Rangitukia Beach Road, East Cape

Site we look after:

Black granite obelisk marking the graves of five Hawkes Bay volunteers, New Zealand Wars casualties of 1865.

  • Sgts C Dearlove and Christopher Borthwick
  • Ptes W D Laurie, H Moore and Charles Greaves.

Rangitukia soldiers’ graves (NZHistory)

Rawiri Waiaua grave

Location: Corbett Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth

Sites we look after:

Concrete cross marking the graves of Rawiri Waiaua and his followers killed by supporters of Waitere Katatore in land disputes in Taranaki in 1854.

Rawiri Waiaua grave (NZHistory)

Renata Kawepo Memorial

Location: Omahu Churchyard, Ōmāhu

Site we look after:

Red granite memorial commemorating Renata Kawepo and his followers who died during the Pai Mārire rebellion of 1860–1872.

Renata Kawepo Memorial (NZHistory)

Ruakituri Cemetery Reserve

Location: Papuni Road, Ruakituri Valley near Wairoa

Sites we look after:

Three New Zealand Wars memorials

  • Metal plaque mounted on a rock cairn in memory of Davis Canning
  • Grave of Captain Oswald Carr, Royal Artillery
  • Stone cairn commemorating Constables Coates, Condon, Byrne and Private Rihara.

Ruakituri Cemetery Reserve (NZHistory)

Russell (Christ Church) Churchyard

Location: Russell

Sites we look after:

  • Memorial to those killed at Kororareka
  • Memorial to Chief Tamati Waka Nene
  • HMS Hazard grave and wooden headboard

Russell (Christ Church) Churchyard (NZHistory)

Symonds Street Cemetery

Location: Auckland

Sites we look after:

  • Grave of Captain William Hobson
  • Headstone of Lt Alexander Mitchell
  • Anglican commemorative wall and patio
  • Catholic commemorative wall and patio

Symonds Street Cemetery records (Heritage NZ)

Symonds Street Cemetery (NZHistory)

Tauranga Mission Cemetery

Location: Corner Den Place and Mirrilees Road, Tauranga

Sites we look after:

  • Memorial to Hori Ngatai – grey granite with urn on top
  • Memorial to Rawiri Puhirake – red marble obelisk topped by urn
  • Memorial to those killed at Te Ranga on 21 June 1864 and Gate Pa on 29 April 1864 – a pyramidal-shaped sandstone obelisk
  • Memorial to 1st Waikato Militia and others
  • Memorial Cross to seamen and marines
  • Memorial to the Māori dead
  • Individual graves of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton, Commander Edward Hay, Lieut Charles Hill, Sgt James Harmer, Lt Col James Fraser, Patrick Falcon Leonard, Sgt James Swallow and Trooper Fred Gill

Ground plaques to 37 individual servicemen:

  • T A Baker, George Berins, J Bradley, W Brissington, John Cady and Thomas H Dixon, J Clarke, James Colfer, Robert Collins, Benjamin Cordwell, Edwin Dee, Richard Dodd, Henry Emus, Robert Farrell, Charles Halford, James Harmer (also has headstone), J Harrington, William Jarvis, Henry Jeffs, Kilbride, Lawrence Mannion, Henry Matthews, James McAnary, William McAuley, H McCuen, Patrick McDonald, Thomas McGough, G Mitchelson, Charles Mure, John Platt, James Scanlon, D Shanaghan, James Taylor, J Timms, John Twinen and Thomas Bayley, George Watt and James W Wheeler

Tauranga Mission Cemetery (NZHistory)

Teasdale Memorial

Location: McKenna Place, Te Awamutu

Site we look after:

White marble obelisk to 11 men of H M Forces who lost their lives in the Waikato war.

Teasdale Memorial (NZHistory)

Te Awamutu (St John’s) Churchyard

Location: Eastern side of Arawata Street, Te Awamutu

Sites we look after:

  • Marble obelisk on plinth to Māori who fell in Battles of Hairini and Orakau in 1864
  • Imperial and Colonial Forces Memorial to officers and men who died in Waikato Wars 1863–65 – sandstone, with marble inscription panel and cross on three-tiered base
  • Graves of Lieut and Adjutant Arthur H Lewis and Ensign Alfred Chaytor
  • Graves of F R Gubbins and Constable Gilfillan.
Te Henui Cemetery

Location: Lemon Street, New Plymouth

Sites we look after:

  • 57th Regt mass grave, Catholic section
  • 57th Regt mass grave, Old Anglican section
  • 57th Regiment obelisk
  • 43rd Monmouthshire Regt mass grave
  • Monument to those who died at Pukearuhe on 13 February 1869 (handed back to New Plymouth District Council in 2009, after restoration)
  • Grave of Arthur Balfour Duncan, 57th Regt, died 4 June 1864
  • Grave of Cornelius O’Keefe, No 1 Coy, Taranaki Militia, drowned 28 December 1863
  • James Curran, 43rd Regt, Armed Constabulary, drowned 9 August 1869
  • Joseph Wheeler, 43rd Regt, Taranaki Bushrangers, drowned 3 July 1870
  • Royal Artillery graves: James Stewart, died 28 April 1864; W Norris, died 10 February 1865; R Morris, died 17 June 1866
  • Grave of John Hawken, died 7 November 1860
  • Grave of Henry Edgecombe, Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, died 6 November 1860
  • Grave of Samuel Ford, died 28 March 1860
  • Grave of Bamber Gascoigne and family, died 13 February 1869
  • Pukearuhe graves: John Milne, died 13 February 1869 and Edward Richards, died 13 February 1869
  • Grave of Reverend John Whiteley, died at Pukearuhe, 13 February 1869
  • Omata graves: H Passmore, W Parker, S Shaw, J Pote, died 27 March 1860
  • Grave of Captain T W Lloyd, 57th Regt, died 6 June 1864
  • Grave of Captain Arthur Close, 43rd Regt, died 28 July 1865.
Te Ngutu o te Manu Domain Memorial

Location: Ahipaipa Road, halfway between Kapuni and Mātapu, Taranaki

Site we look after:

Memorial to the New Zealand Wars soldiers killed fighting against Tītokowaru, Chief of Ngāruahine tribe, South Taranaki at Te Ngutu o Te Manu in 1868.

Te Ngutu o te Manu Domain Memorial (NZHistory)

Te Rore New Zealand Wars Graves

Location: Te Rore. Located on private land. Contact us if you require more details.

Site we look after:

Grey granite obelisk commemorating John O’Hanlon and John Wilson, 12th Regt, died at Te Rore 1864, and William Connor, 40th Regt, died 8 February 1864, and others.

Te Rore New Zealand Wars Memorial (NZHistory)

Waihī Memorial Cairn

Location: Taranaki

Sites we look after:

  • Stone cairn with marble tablet commemorating soldiers killed fighting in the New Zealand Wars against Tītokowaru, Chief of Ngāruahine tribe, South Taranaki at Turuturumōkai and Te Ngutu o Te Manu
  • Grave of Captain Frederick Ross, killed 12 July 1868.

Waihī Memorial Cairn

Waikato Regiment NZ Wars memorial

Location: Drury (St John’s) Anglican Churchyard, Norrie Road, Drury

Site we care for:

Memorial recording the names of eight men – all from the 1st Waikato Regiment of Militia – who fell in action at Mauku on 23 October 1863 and are thought to be buried in the mass grave beneath the memorial.

Waikato Regiment NZ Wars memorial (NZHistory)

Waioturi Burial Ground

Location: Waioturi Marae, Patea

Site we look after:

Grave of Cpl Charles Philpott, killed in action at Te Pūtahi pā 7 January 1866.

Wairau Memorial, Tuamarina Cemetery

Location: Cotterill St, Tuamarina

Site we look after:

Arthur Wakefield and settlers killed in the incident on the Wairau 17 June 1843.

Wairau Memorial (NZHistory)

Waireka Cemetery

Location: Waireka Road, Waireka

Site we look after:

Grave of Tpr Antonio Rodriguez de Sardinha NZC, died 12 May 1905.

Waitara Historic Cemetery

Location: McLean Street, Waitara

Sites we look after:

  • Black granite obelisk commemorating those soldiers killed at Puketakauere on 27 June 1860 and Kairau on 29 December 1860 in the New Zealand Wars
  • Grave of Charles Francis Brooke and non-commissioned officers and men of the 40th Regt who died 1860–1861.
Whanganui (Christ Church) Churchyard

Location: Wicksteed Street, Whanganui

Site we look after:

Memorial commemorating CW Broughton, Interpreter to the Forces, erected by officers serving.

Whatawhata Cemetery

Location: Cemetery Road, Whatawhata

Sites we look after:

White marble headstone commemorating New Zealand Wars servicemen who died at Whatawhata in 1864

  • Cpl Thomas Armstrong
  • Pte George Beavis
  • Pte James Connilian
  • Pte William Rogerson
  • Pte Patrick Coughlan
  • C P S Gunson
  • James Cornish
  • Bartholomew Ashe
  • Joshua Reynolds
  • Joseph Clarkson
  • J Collins.

Whatawhata Cemetery (NZHistory)

South African War Graves

These are graves of servicemen who served in the South African War and died from war-related causes in New Zealand, within a year of their discharge. They are located throughout New Zealand.

Commonwealth War Graves

The Ministry is the New Zealand agent for the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions (CWGC). As agents for CWGC we are responsible for graves of personnel throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands who died between 4 August 1914 and 31 August 1921 and 3 September 1939 and 31 December 1947.

This includes 570 casualties of both world wars with no known grave. These casualties are commemorated on the Auckland Memorial in Devonport and on provincial memorials in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.

Most of the war casualties buried in New Zealand died while on garrison or training duties, or in hospitals

In addition, New Zealand is a member of the CWGC. The other member countries are the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa and India. Each country contributes to the cost of the Commission’s work in proportion to the number of war graves, with New Zealand contributing 2.14 percent to the annual budget.

You can trace the graves and memorials of all Commonwealth service personnel who died during the two world wars on the Commission’s website.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

War Graves of later conflicts

These are graves service personnel who died in more recent conflicts, such as Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. They are located throughout New Zealand.

Further info

If you are looking for assistance regarding a veterans graves who did not die on active service or a consequence of injury or illness from their war service please contact Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs.

Historic Graves and Memorials

There are three types of historic graves and memorials in care of the Ministry:

  • Historic graves which have national significance
  • Memorials and graves bearing the words ‘Erected by the New Zealand Government’
  • Historic cemeteries dating from NZ's earliest settler period

Below is a list of historic grave and memorials sites that we care for and links to further information on these sites.

Akaroa French Historic Cemetery

Location: Rue Brittan, L’Aube Hill, Akaroa

Akaroa French Historic Cemetery (Te Ara)

Wakefield family grave

Location: Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington

Site we look after:

Grave of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and family.

Edward Gibbon Wakefield (Dictionary of NZ Biography, Te Ara)

Devonport (Mt Victoria) Cemetery

Location: Albert Road, Auckland

Site we care for:

Grave of Chief Eruera Patuone.

Hamuera Tamahau Mahupuku Memorial

Location: Papawai Marae, Papawai, Greytown

Tamuera Tamahua Mahupuku Memorial (NZHistory)

Hirini Street Cemetery

Location: Gisborne

  • Grave of Captain Duncan Michie Brown
  • Grave of Chief Te Kani Hirini.
Honiana Te Puni Memorial

Location: Te Puni Street, Petone

Honiana Te Puni Memorial (NZHistory)

Ihaka Whaanga Memorial

Location: State Highway 2 in front of Unity Hall, Nūhaka

Ihaka Whaanga Memorial (NZHistory)

Kawakawa Cemetery

Location: Whiteman Road, Kawakawa

Site we look after:

Grave of Captain James Tau Tari, white marble headstone with lead lettering.

Mangere (St James’s) Churchyard

Location: Corner Church Road and Woodward Avenue, Mangere Bridge

Sites we look after:

Graves of two Māori Chiefs — Kati Takiwaru and Epiha Te Tuhi — comprising flat marble slabs with lead letters.

Māngungu Mission Station Cemetery

Location: Five kilometres west of Horeke, on road to Ivydale, Northland

Sites we look after:

Graves of early settlers

  • Thomas McLean
  • Captain William Crow
  • Captain David Clarke
  • Footstone “J E 1850”
  • Puriri post “A B R 13 March 1841”
  • Captain Thomas Neal
  • Samuel Butler
  • Broken-off stone – blank
  • Thomas Mitchell
  • Joseph Shepherdson and John Harris Davis
  • William Wallis
  • Maria Warmington
  • William Robinson and daughter, Sarah
  • George Gillis and several family members
  • Richard Halmley Marriner
  • William Charles Woon
  • Anna McDonnell
  • William Frederick Mosley Monro
  • John Martin
  • Maria Wells
  • George Marriner
  • George Frederick Russell
  • Gillis family grave: Annabella and William Webster.

The cemetery also has the sites of three other graves once marked by wooden picket fences and headstones both of which disappeared many years ago.

Normanby Memorial

Location: Normanby Domain, Taranaki

Site we look after:

Memorial to soldiers and Māori killed in several engagements in the New Zealand Wars from 1866 to 1868.

Normanby Memorial (NZHistory)

Ōhinemutu (St Faith’s) Churchyard

Location: Ōhinemutu

Site we look after:

Grave of Chief Paora Te Amohau. The grave is to the left of the main doors of the church.

Ōtakou Churchyard

Location: Otago Peninsula

Sites we look after:

Graves of Chiefs Te Matenga Taiaroa and Ngatata-i-te-Rangi.

Pakanae Cemetery

Location: Cemetery Road, Pakanae, Northland

Site we look after:

Grave of Chief Moetara.

Pakaraka (Holy Trinity) Churchyard

Location: about eight kilometres south of Ohaeawai on State Highway 1

Sites we look after:

Graves of Archdeacon Henry Williams and his wife Marianne.

Pitihera Kopu Memorial

Location: Marine Parade, Wairoa

Site we look after:

Memorial commemorating Chief Pitihera Kopu, who died 1867.

Pōtatau Monument

Location: Ngaruawahia Domain, Ngaruawahia

Site we look after:

White marble obelisk, 3.5 metres high, and plinth commemorating the first Māori King, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero.

Pōtatau Monument (NZHistory)

Pouawha Meihana Memorial

Location: Pūkeko Marae, Poroporo, Whakatane

Site we look after:

Life-size statue of Chief Pouawha Meihana on a two-metre high pedestal.

Purewa Cemetery

Location: St John’s Road, Meadowbank, Auckland

Sites we look after:

Grave of Sir William Fox, a former Prime Minister, and Lady Sarah Fox.

Ropata Wahawaha grave

Location: Waiomatatini Marae, Urupa

Sites we look after:

Obelisk and grave of Major Ropata Wahawaha, died 1 July 1897.

Ropata Wahawaha grave (NZHistory)

Russell (Christ Church) Churchyard

Location: Russell

Sites we look after:

  • Memorial to those killed at Kororareka
  • Memorial to Chief Tamati Waka Nene
  • HMS Hazard grave and wooden headboard

Russell (Christ Church) Churchyard (NZHistory)

Symonds Street Cemetery

Location: Auckland

Sites we look after:

  • Grave of Captain William Hobson
  • Headstone of Lt Alexander Mitchell
  • Anglican commemorative wall and patio
  • Catholic commemorative wall and patio

Symonds Street Cemetery records (Heritage NZ)

Symonds Street Cemetery (NZHistory)

Te Hurinui Apanui Memorial

Location: corner The Strand and Commerce Streets, Whakātane

Site we look after:

Memorial to Te Hurinui Apanui, a leading Ngāti Awa rangatira, comprising a five-metre high polished black granite obelisk topped by urn.

Te Hurinui Apanui Memorial (Te Ara)

Te Wheoro Monument

Location: Waikato Riverbank near Maurea Marae, close to Rangiriri Pā

Site we look after:

Memorial commemorating Chief Wiremu Te Wheoro.

Waimate (St John’s) Churchyard

Location: 21 kilometres north-east of Kaikohe

Sites we look after:

Graves of servicemen killed in the New Zealand Wars:

  • Pte John Ingate, 58th Regt, died 12 September 1845
  • Ptes William Stewart and Matthew Hodgkins, 58th Regt, killed in assault on Hone Heke’s pā at Ōhaeawai, 1 July 1845
  • Captain William Grant 58th Regt
  • Lt Edward Beattie, 99th Regt and Lt George Philpotts HMS Hazard who died in the assault on Hone Heke’s pā 1 July 1845

10 graves of early settlers and missionaries

  • Hemi Ruatara
  • Arthur Spencer Taylor (son of Rev Taylor CMS Waitangi) died 1840
  • Rev R Davis family plot
  • George Hobbs
  • Dr H W Watling and wife Emily
  • Rev Whytehead
  • William Davis (son of Rev Davis) and Mary Davis
  • George Clarke family plot
  • W P Kemp and family
  • William Spence King family plot.
Wi Pere Memorial

Location: Reads Quay, Gisborne

Site we look after:

Memorial commemorating Hon Wi Pere, Māori statesman, 1837–1915.

Wi Pere Memorial (NZHistory)