A renowned author of a book on the 28th Maori Battalion is grateful to the Government for contributing money towards building a museum to honour soldiers from the East Coast of the North Island.
The Government has donated $500,000 towards a new Maori Battalion war museum in Gisborne commemorating C Company.
Monty Soutar, who is also one of the trustees tasked with building the museum, said it shows the Government holds C Company in high esteem.
He says the people and descendants of those soldiers acknowledge the fact that the Government is praising the sacrifice that those men and women played to protect New Zealand from tyranny during World War II.
Dr Soutar said in the Gisborne - Hawke's Bay regions, there was a 70% casualty rate for the soldiers who joined the battalion and it's a recognition of their bravery which the community is very pleased about.
