A ceremony commemorating the contributions of Cook Islands soldiers to New Zealand's war effort between 1914 and 1918 was held in parliament buildings yesterday.
The descendants of the four hundred sixty one Cook Island soldiers who served during World War I marched into the ceremony led by bag-pipes and the sounds of conch shells.
Descendants of Cook Island soldiers marching Photo: Supplied
The Cook Islands High Commissioner in New Zealand, Tiki Matapo, told the Cook Islands News, that this is a significant milestone for the Cook Islands people, and it gives overdue credit to the feats and service of the Cook Islands soldiers who enlisted 100 years ago to serve King and country.
White crosses representing the soldiers, who enlisted as part of the Rarotonga Contingent in the New Zealand expeditionary forces, were laid out on the lawns of parliament as a symbolic reminder of the Cook Islands contribution's to the First World War.
White crosses representing Cook Islands soldiers who served in WWI. Photo: Supplied
There will be various commemorative Cook Islands World War I events in Wellington this weekend
