Volunteers Honor Taranaki Veterans with Poppy Project Initiative

Volunteers from the New Zealand Remembrance Army have placed poppies on the headstones of 160 veterans at New Plymouth’s Awanui Cemetery. This initiative, which took place between Christmas and the New Year holiday, involved cleaning each grave and marking it with a poppy. Future restoration efforts are planned to continue recognizing the service of New Zealand’s military personnel.

Since its inception, the project has placed a total of 300 poppies on veterans’ headstones within Awanui Cemetery. This effort is part of a broader campaign that spans Taranaki and other regions of New Zealand. Simon Strombom, a retired major and decorated veteran of the Afghanistan conflict, founded the initiative, emphasizing the urgency of preserving the memories of those who served.

“If we don’t do this work now, it will never get done,” said Strombom. “This is about making sure service is recognized before those memories are gone for good.” He noted that during initial assessments, only about two-thirds of veterans buried in cemeteries could be identified, largely because many headstones do not indicate military service. He highlighted that even in New Plymouth, there are highly decorated servicemen whose graves lack any acknowledgment of their contributions.

The project required extensive research, with volunteers cross-referencing burial lists, honours records, and military databases to locate each grave accurately. Strombom, who was honored as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for his efforts, remarked on the advantages of modern digital tools, which allow for quick identification of veterans.

“Awanui has really surprised me. There is a huge amount of military history here, including decorated soldiers and people with remarkable service records who were completely unrecognized,” he stated. Rather than altering existing headstones, the team chose to place poppies on graves. This respectful and cost-effective approach acknowledges service while recording the information on the Find a Grave app, making it accessible to families and the public.

The response from families and cemetery visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. “We hear from people who visit the cemetery and are genuinely moved to see a clean grave with a poppy on it,” Strombom explained. “It shows someone has taken the time to acknowledge that service.”

In addition to the poppy project, Strombom and his team are exploring plans to establish a walk of honour in New Plymouth to recognize local veterans. They are also looking to create a small commemorative plaque for members of the East End and Fitzroy surf clubs who served in the military.

“It’s a very simple plaque, but it recognizes the surf club members who served, and it’s just the kind of thing we want to do for the community,” he added. The initiative not only serves to honor the past but also fosters a sense of community and remembrance for those who have made sacrifices in the line of duty.