These memorial gates at Pungarehu School were designed by the Taranaki Education Board architect, Mr C.H. Moore. They were erected by Mr A.J. Fake from Ōpunake at a cost of £78. The majority of the money was raised by school children (£35), the public raised £28, with the Education Board and the Government providing £7 10s each.
The gates were scheduled to be unveiled on 26 November 1930, however due to bad weather this was postponed until 7 December 1930. Before a large crowd the memorial gates were unveiled by the local M.P., Mr C.A. Wilkinson, who expressed his appreciation at the efforts of the residents to see the project through. It was reported by the Taranaki Daily News that Mrs R. Matthews had suggested the idea of a memorial some 10 years earlier and at the opening expressed her pleasure at that finally the community had a memorial "worthy of the district".
On ANZAC Day 2007 a memorial plaque to the servicemen and women of Pungarehu (transcribed from the honours board in the Pungarehu hall) was unveiled at the Cape Egmont Boat Club where it joined the Wārea plaque installed the previous year after being transferred from the closed Warea School.
Pungarehu School is now closed.
Top of Left Pillar: Top of Right Pillar:
In Memory of In Honour of
Those who Fell Those who Served in
1914-1918 The Great War
Lower on Left: Lower on Right:
2NZEF(Japan) Korea
1946-1948 1950-1954
Malaya Malaysia Vietnam
Borneo 1964-1972
1955-1966
Related documents:
Memorial Fund Entertainment (Taranaki Daily News 3 November 1922)
Money Raised for Memorial (Taranaki Daily News 18 February 1926)
Plan Approved (Taranaki Daily News 26 April 1929)
Official Opening Advertisement (Taranaki Daily News 24 November 1930)
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