One of New Zealand's newest (not to mention one of the grandest) war memorials, work on the Manukau RSA memorial gardens was begun in February 2008. The idea for the memorial was conceived in 1980 by NZRSA members from across Counties Manukau, some of whom went on to form the South Auckland Cemetery Trust to progress the project. The bulk of funding for the project came from the Manurewa Community Board, with the remainder coming from contributions from various RSA Women’s Sections, Manurewa and Papatoetoe RSA, Veteran Affairs New Zealand and the ASB Trust.
The memorial, which formed an extension to the existing RSA area in the Manukau Memorial Gardens, was unveiled on 18 November 2010. It is a memorial to all New Zealand servicemen and women who have given their lives in the South African War, First World War, Second World War, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and East Timor.
The design by landscape architects Chow:Hill includes three distinct areas set aside for commemoration, remembrance and education. A set of four statues represents the three branches of the armed forces and the nursing service, while both text and photographs inset into four granite panels depict individual wartime experiences within these services.
Sources: 'War memorial to be built', Manukau Courier, 26/4/2007, p. 3; 'Spadework done for new war memorial', Manukau Courier, 21/2/2008, p. 3; 'Sod turning marks beginning of new memorial', Manukau Matters, no. 39, 9 March 2008, p. 5; 'Panels salute bravery', Manukau Courier, 25/11/2010, p. 1.
Images: Sarndra Lees, 2010
Additional information: Bruce Ringer, Auckland City Libraries, 2013