Cook Islands WWI NZEF ANZAC Soldiers Research Project team believes their research has led them to between 370 and 410 Cook Islands returned soldiers who are buried throughout the nation.

The team is led by Paula Paniani, the chief archivist at the National Archives of Cook Islands Ministry for Cultural Development, Australian cemetery and grave conservator Cate Walker and her husband Paul Morrissey, Bobby Nicholas- head researcher along with local television reporter and documentary producer Julie Taripo Shedden.

Walker says since 2016, they have documented 314 WWI graves and headstones on Rarotonga (172), Aitutaki (50), Mangaia (43), Atiu (29) and Mauke (20).

“Our team’s research leads us to believe that there are between 370 and 410 Cook Islands World War One returned soldiers buried throughout the Cook Islands.”

This week on their Facebook Page it was said that Nicholas, Paniani and Walker have been assisting the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage (Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) agents for NZ & the Pacific) over many months to finalise the details to commemorate and honour the six CWGC graves announced in October 2019 which was based on their teams research.

Graves. SUPPLIED /24011204

Three graves are located in Rarotonga, two in Aitutaki and one in Atiu and will be cared for in perpetuity by the CWGC with financial assistance provided to the local communities.

“Our team will be resuming our Rarotonga Soldier Search in April this year and we look forward to updating the local community regarding the burial locations of soldiers we are still searching for.”  

Paniani told Cook Islands News, in regards to the six CWGC they are in search of, the land owners, and at the moment she is liaising with landowners from Aitutaki, Atiu and Titikaveka. 

“As for the Matavera landowner, she is already aware of this from last year,” she said.

Paniani said that in 2023 they found many as recorded by Walker with the help of family members on Facebook and Nicholas. 

She said their challenges included identifying where in each village these remaining soldiers are buried especially here on Rarotonga. 

“We had to somehow narrow down our research based on the information we had, such as finding the genealogies or family connections to these soldiers and then work our way down. 

“We all know that our villages are massive, especially here in Rarotonga.  Now if a soldier is buried in Tupapa, the question is where exactly in Tupapa? 

“Next move is to find the relations or even see our elders whom we believe are related to these soldiers.  And it always comes out positive.”

Paula Paniani being interviewed at one of the grave sites by CITV. SUPPLIED / 24011205

She said their team is community work and there are also challenges with the two Australians, Walker and her husband who wholeheartedly give their time and respect in finding Cook Islands WWI Soldiers. 

“It is very costly coming to the Cook Islands.  Same as travelling to the outer islands, that’s costly too hence why we go out and ask help from the community and local businesses. 

“These stories and findings need to be preserved and shared out to the community and we have been doing that since 2016.  This is part of our Cook Islands history.  We are so grateful to the many supporters and sponsors we have had since 2016.”

She added that the CITV promotion of each island they have travelled to, is a treasure. 

“This is the beauty of finding our WWI soldiers and connecting to the families.”

Walker says their biggest challenge will be documenting the six soldiers located in the Northern Group, Pukapuka (3), Penrhyn (2), Manihiki (1) and Rakahanga (1).

She also said that a charter flight is not cheap but they are hopeful that one day they will make it to these islands, because their research is not complete until they visit these soldiers' graves.

Walker added that discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Cultural Development as to how to store their voluntary research on their website for the benefit of future generations.

The team has acknowledged their sponsors, families, friends and supporters who have helped them in their research.

The six Cook Islands NZEF WWI soldier’s names and locations are as follows:

Name: Nga Naeiti (aka Ngatamaine a Naeiti)

Service number: 60769

Date of death: 28 January 1921

Rank: Private

Burial location: Nikao Cemetery, Rarotonga Cook Islands

Name: Rangi Tiaure

Service number: 84532

Date of death: 13 January 1920.

Rank: Private

Cemetery: Matavera, Rarotonga

Name: Mareto Tima

Service number: 84541

Date of death: 10 August 1919

Rank: Private

Cemetery: Titikaveka, Rarotonga

Name: Banaba Tipe

Service number: 60653

Date of death: 2 August 1920

Rank: Private

Cemetery: Amuri Village, Aitutaki

Name: Taria Tearii (aka Tearii Taria)

Service number: 84513

Date of death: 19 September 1919

Rank: Private

Burial location: Vaipae Village, Aitutaki

Name: Terongo Tuakeo

Service number: 19327

Date of death: 6 July 1919.

Rank: Private

Cemetery: Tengatangi Village, Atiu