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Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage is calling for applications from historians, researchers and non-fiction writers to produce stories about their communities. The Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grant offers successful applicants up to $12,000 to to support history research and writing. Applications close on 15 October.
One month remaining to apply for the Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants
Join us at the National Library of NZ in person or online to hear archivist and author Jared Davidson discuss his latest book, 'Blood and Dirt: Prison Labour and the Making of New Zealand' and the role prisoners have played in the development of modern New Zealand. Takes place on Wednesday 4 October at 12.10pm.
Public History talk - Prison labour and the making of New Zealand
Celebrate from Sunday 1 – Saturday 7 October. This year’s theme for Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week is Fakatumau kae fakaakoi tau ‘gana ke mautu a iloga o ‘ta tuā. Discover more on the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website.
Tuvalu Language Week 2023
Following its triumphant premiere in 2019, the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s acclaimed Hansel & Gretel returns for Christmas 2023. Loughlan Prior, with Claire Cowan and Kate Hawley, has created a magical world of memorable characters. Touring nationwide from 26 October to 09 December, learn more on the Royal New Zealand Ballet's website.
Book now for the RNZB's Hansel & Gretel production
Kismet, in association with Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Firefly Films, Caravan Carpark Films and Kingston Productions are proud to release the trailer for the highly anticipated local feature film Uproar - which will have its nationwide cinema release on October 5, hot on the heels of its selection and screening at the revered Toronto International Film Festival this September.
Trailer Unveiled For Aotearoa Feature Film Uproar
This year marks the centenary of Katherine Mansfield's death. In 1908, Mansfield left Edwardian provincial life in Wellington in search of a new literary life in England and Europe. Somewhere she could be, a place to settle and call home. She never forgot her early impressions and memories of Aotearoa and continually referenced it in her writings. Join the KM2023 Centenary team throughout 2023 to celebrate one hundred years of her creative legacy – check out their events page for a Mansfield event near you, or find inspiration in these ideas for how to get involved in your own way.
Katherine Mansfield Centenary events for October
The fortnightly Wellington Heritage Festival runs from 23 October to 5 November 2023. Book now for a wide range of events including free walking tours of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
Pukeahu walking tours at the Wellington Heritage Festival
Local and international audiences have three brand new series to look forward to from talented New Zealand content teams, telling Aotearoa’s stories. Two series that debuted in 2023 have also secured a second year of support from Irirangi Te Motu| NZ On Air. One of the stand-out local drama hits of 2023, The Gone will return for a second season on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+. Learn more on NZ On Air's website.
NZ On Air announces three new drama series and two popular returning series
Following a triumphant BBC Proms debut in London, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New returns home for unmissable concert experiences in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton from 27 October.
Star conductor Gemma New leads NZSO for exciting concert line-up

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Home NZ Identity & Heritage National monuments & war graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The Commission is responsible for commemorating members of the Armed Forces who died during the World Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45 and cares for their graves throughout the world.

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% to the annual budget.

Location of graves and memorials

You can trace the graves and memorials of all Commonwealth service personnel who died during the two world wars on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Contact us if you need area maps and cemetery plans. These are not yet available on the CWCG's website.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

The War dead of New Zealand

The total number of New Zealand war dead of the two world wars commemorated throughout the world by the Commission is:

• 1914-1918 War: 18,070
• 1939-1945 War: 11,926
• Total: 29,996

The countries in which the largest number of New Zealand war dead are commemorated are France (7,780), Belgium (4,712) and Türkiye (2,347) mainly from the 1914-1918 War, and Egypt (2,924), Greece (1,149), Italy (2,157) and New Caledonia (539) from the 1939-1945 War.

War Graves in New Zealand

There are 3,431 New Zealand casualties of the two World Wars commemorated in New Zealand in a total of 433 sites throughout the country. This figure includes 570 casualties of both World Wars with no known grave who are commemorated on the Auckland Memorial in Devonport and on provincial memorials in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington.

Most of the casualties buried in New Zealand died while on garrison or training duties or in hospitals. As an agent for the CWGC, the Ministry inspects the graves every three years and arranges for their cleaning and repair when needed. We also look after Commonwealth graves and memorials to the missing in New Caledonia, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Society Islands.

Updated on 27th April 2023