Tongan ex-servicemen will mark Anzac Day tomorrow (April 25) when they parade in Otahuhu.
Rev, Tevita ʻIloa-i-Pangai Tuʻineau, of the Anglican church, who is the chaplain for the former Tongan servicemen’s association in Central Auckland, said they were looking forward to the march tomorrow.
Rev. Tuʻineau said they used to join the marches at the Auckland Domain in front of Auckland War Memorial Museum Civic service.
However, last year they decided to relocate to South Auckland and parade in Otahuhu instead.
He said this was because they felt they were not recognised properly by the RSA organisers of the programme at the Domain.
The RSA will hold a service at the Otahuhu Memorial at 9.30am.
Another march has been organised at Mangere Bridge by the Mangere council.
Kaniva News understands some Tongans who are working at the council will take part.
There is a memorial service at the Mangere Bridge War Memorial Hall at 9.15am.
In Tonga, a dawn service will be held to remember those men and women from Tonga, Australia and New Zealand who have served in international conflicts.
The Service will be held at the Cenotaph at Pangai Lahi, Nuku’alofa.
Guests are requested to be seated at 5:45am. Members of the public will be invited to lay a wreath during the service should they wish to do so. Medals may be worn.
Tonga at war
In early 1916 a recruiting party from the New Zealand Army was sent to Tonga and returned with a number of recruits. Some were expatriate British, Australians or New Zealanders, while others were of mixed Tongan and European ancestry.
They enlisted in either the Pioneer Maori Battalion or the Auckland Infantry Battalion.
During the Second World War about 2000 Tongan soldiers served in the Solomon Islands during the war against Japan.
More recently, Tongan soldiers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The main points
- Tongan ex-servicemen will mark Anzac Day tomorrow (April 25) when they parade in Otahuhu.
- Rev, Tevita ʻIloa-i-Pangai Tuʻineau, of the Anglican church, who is the chaplain for the former Tongan servicemen’s association in Central Auckland, said they were looking forward to the march tomorrow.
- In Tonga, a dawn service will be held at the Cenotaph at Pangai Lahi, Nuku’alofa.
- Tongan troops served in both world wars, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For more information
Tonga in World War One.
http://tongainworldwar1.webs.com/
RSA Anzac Day service finder
http://rsa.org.nz/find-an-anzac-day-service
