Niue receives memorial headstones for First World War servicemen

Thirty-nine memorial headstones have been delivered to Niue to honor Niuean personnel who served in the First World War. The headstones were transported via a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules and officially handed over to the Government of Niue and the Niue Returned Services Association (RSA) during a ceremony in the capital, Alofi.

The memorials are intended for placement in villages across Niue, offering community members and descendants a dedicated space to pay tribute to the men who joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as part of the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. Alexander Brunt, head of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand, noted that the 150 servicemen who volunteered represented approximately four per cent of Niue’s population at the time.

Wing Commander Adam O’Rourke of the New Zealand Defence Force represented the organization at the ceremony, noting that the service of these men forged an enduring bond between Niue and New Zealand.