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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Tess Alps in Wellington

‘About time’: Māori Battalion veteran welcomes New Zealand effort to issue unclaimed war medals

Maori Battalion veteran Robert Gillies, centre,
Maori Battalion veteran Robert Gillies, centre, has welcomed the move to unite New Zealand service members’ families with unclaimed medals. Photograph: NZDF/A/CPL Naomi James

New Zealand is working to get medals to the rightful homes of up to 500 men from the country’s Māori Battalion, who were not properly recognised for their service.

The Māori Battalion, also known as the “28th”, was one of New Zealand’s most-decorated units during the second world war, fighting in Italy, Egypt, Crete and north Africa, but many of the men who served never received their medals.

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