Artist Michel Tuffery speaking at the Dedication ceremony - photo by Mark Tantrum.
Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa - Pacific Islands Memorial
Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Islands Memorial represents New Zealand’s enduring friendship with the Pacific Islands and the service of Pacific Islanders in support of New Zealand in the two World Wars and later conflicts. The design depicts a bronze conch shell, a symbol deeply rooted in Pacific cultures, which has a patina finish with remembrance poppies.
The dedication of the Memorial took place on 27 March 2021 at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Watch a live stream of the dedication ceremony here.
View of Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa - The deep sigh of the Pacific taken at the dedication ceremony.
The design by artist Michel Tuffery MNZM and Herriot, Melhuish and O’Neil Architects was selected by an expert judging panel following a national design competition. Named Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa - The deep sigh of the Pacific, it 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 were stationed beneath the town of Arras during 1916 to 1918.
The Pacific Islands Memorial is a joint initiative by Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with support from the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
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Updated on 9th April 2021