Description

The Te Awamutu First World War Memorial, unveiled by Governor-General Lord Jellicoe on May 30, 1923, commemorates the 58 local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. The memorial features a 20-foot cenotaph topped with a statue of a New Zealand infantryman, carved from white marble.

The names of the fallen are inscribed on its sides, and the memorial was originally located on a triangle of land at the junction of Bank and Teasdale Streets, known as ‘Anzac Green.’ The site once displayed war trophies, including a field artillery piece, and a roll of honour listing those who served is now displayed at the Te Awamutu & District Memorial RSA clubrooms.

Description

The Kihikihi War Memorial, unveiled in 1923, is a granite obelisk located on Lyon Street in Kihikihi, standing five meters tall. It commemorates the 33 men from the district who lost their lives in the First World War, with their names inscribed on the monument. The memorial carries the inscription:

“Lest we forget – in loving memory of the men who have fallen in the Great War.”

It was dedicated in a solemn ceremony attended by locals and officials, marking a permanent tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the district’s fallen soldiers.

Description

The Rewi Maniapoto Memorial in Kihikihi, established in 1894, honours the influential leader of the Kīngitanga movement and military strategist during the Waikato War. The memorial marks his burial site, and the only land returned to Ngāti Maniapoto after the New Zealand Wars until the recent Maniapoto Claims Settlement Act 2022.

Built near his government-gifted home, it was unveiled while Maniapoto was still alive. Today, the memorial is a key historical site, surrounded by a public reserve with gardens, playgrounds, and informational panels, maintained by Ngāti Maniapoto and the community.