Modernising memorials

Efforts to update war memorials and recognise more recent deployments have been slowed by different local policies and practices, and the lack of specialised trades people.

The aim is to include post-Vietnam War deployments like those to Bosnia, Timor Leste, and Afghanistan to war memorials.

The New Zealand Remembrance Army, in partnership with Veterans' Affairs, has added contemporary operations to over 20 major memorials. However, ongoing efforts to update more have been challenging due to different council policies and types of memorials.

Simon Strombom from the New Zealand Remembrance Army says each of the 64 councils has different ways of interpreting, managing, and updating war memorials.

“Carterton, South Taranaki, Levin, Porirua, Upper Hutt, and Nelson councils have taken an inclusive and practical approach to recognising contemporary service” said Simon however, there are also examples where this has not occurred.

Photo: Phil Bilbrough, Carterton War Memorial.

“Napier, for instance, excluded contemporary veterans during a recent restoration. In New Plymouth, there is openness to change, but practical barriers – including cost and few skilled masons – have slowed progress.”

“There has never been a single, national set of criteria for what constitutes inclusion on a memorial, so decisions have been left to local bodies, and as a result, approaches vary greatly.”

Determining which campaigns should be recognised is one of the issues. Since the Second World War, there have been 62 campaigns involving New Zealand personnel.

“Our view is that peacekeeping operations, East Timor, and Afghanistan represent the defining conflicts of the current generation – in the same way earlier memorials reflected the major conflicts of their time. However, there is no consistent national approach to this.”

There are also physical constraints. Many memorials were not designed to be easily updated, which makes adding new campaigns or names difficult. Each site often requires a bespoke solution.

With over 400 war memorials nationwide, the New Zealand Remembrance Army will continue to encourage councils to update the memorials and advocate for a standard policy across the country.