The Matatā war memorial gates stand at the entrance to Rangitihi Marae. . Fundraising to build a local war memorial began in 1921. After some controversy over its location and the selection of names, memorial gates were eventually erected in the Matatā Domain, close to the lagoon.
Granite tablets were set into the concrete gate posts. One tablet listed the names of 14 local men who were killed in action during the First World War; the other listed the names of 61 local men who also served.
In July 1933 the gates were moved from the domain to a new site near the Matatā School. Some time after the Second World War,two more tablets were added to the rear of the pillars, listing respectively a further 12 men from the Matatā and Manawahe districts who had been killed in action, and 98 returned servicemen. It is unclear when the pillars were moved to their present location.
See: 'Courtroom "Korero"' Evening Post, 22/12/1922, p. 19; 'Maori Gathering: Opening of Meeting House at Matata', Bay of Plenty Times, 1/7/1933, p. 3.
Images: Bruce Ringer, Auckland Libraries, 2015
Text: Bruce Ringer, 2023