Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park

Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park

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Prime Minister Sidney Holland opened the Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park on 4 December 1955. A plaque set into the low stone wall at the park's entrance commemorates the occasion: "Te Awamutu & District / War Memorial Park / Built in proud and grateful memory of / those men who served their country / in the 1939 - 45 war. / Opened by Sir Sidney Holland / 4th December 1955 / Designed by H.G. Babbage and C. Gibbs / Constructed by H.J. Webber and A.E. Smart".

The park featured walkways, bridges, a lake, a sunken garden, a peace fountain and, perhaps most prominently, a ceremonial concourse formed in the shape of a cross. This was lined with stone walls inset with dedicatory tablets. The central tablet beneath the flagpole erected at the apex of the cross was inscribed: “1939-45 / In memory / of those who / served / and / in sympathy / with those who / suffered / and / in grateful / remembrance / of those who / gave their lives.”

A further 13 tablets listed the names of 151 servicemen from the district who had given their lives. The localities represented included Arohena (7 names), Hairini (4), Hauturu (2), Kawhia (4), Kihikihi (10), Kinohaku (1), Korakonui (3), Mangapiko (1), Ngahinepouri (1), Ngaroma (2), Ohaupo (8), Orakau (1), Paterangi (1), Pirongia (3), Pokuru (2), Puahue (1), Pukeatua (6), Puketotara (1), Roto-O-Rangi (1),  Te Awamutu (56), Te Kawa (2), Te Mawhai (7), Te Pahu (9), Te Rahu (1), Te Rauamoa (1), Te Rore (4), Tokanui (1), Waikeria (1) and Waipa District (11). In later years, a tablet honouring servicemen who had given their lives in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam was added.

In 2002 the local RSA and Lions Club erected a memorial arch at the entrance to the park (a feature envisaged in the park's original plans). It was unveiled by Waipā District mayor Alan Livingstone on 8 December 2002.

In 2018 the Waipā District Council proposed a major refurbishment of the park. This led to considerable controversy. However, the plans as released in 2021 envisaged the preservation or restoration of all the original memorial features, including the restoration of the peace fountain and the replacement of three bridges across the Mangaohoi Stream which commemorated the army, air force and navy.

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