Maori War Memorial Whanganui
The movie “Set in Stone” about the history of the monument and its restoration
In a small town twelve thousand miles away from the battlefields of Europe stands a monument dedicated to all Māori who fought for King and Country during World War One.
Constructed in 1925, it was built so generations to come would remember the supreme sacrifices made by Māori soldiers.
Over time, the stone and the memories carved into it slowly crumble. Storms and earthquakes accelerate this erosion. The loss of generations and dispersal of whānau exacerbates it.
Stopping the erosion, conserving the stones and rebuilding the monument will take a specialist team over a year and cost more than half a million dollars. Restoring memories, reconnecting whānau, and ultimately welcoming a World War One hero back home will take the love of a whole community.
