About 200 people, including veterans and families of those who fought in the Battle of Crete, are on their way to the island to mark the 70th anniversary.
In May 1941 Crete was the scene of one of the most dramatic battles of World War II and a major defeat for the Allies.
German airborne troops were opposed by more than 7000 New Zealanders together with British, Australian and Greek troops and Cretan civilians.
The battle exacted a heavy cost for New Zealand: 671 soldiers were killed and more than 2000 taken as prisoners of war.
Former private Roye Hammond, one of the five veterans attending the anniversary, says people in Crete always treat him like a long-lost friend.
The Returned & Services Association says the veterans and families will attend commemoration services and visit battlefield sites next Friday.
With the veterans now in their early and mid-90s, the RSA says this will likely be their last trip to Crete to remember the battle.
