Paradise Soldiers

The stories of soldiers who served with New Zealand’s armed forces’ starting with the First World War have rarely been shared. The Cook Islands, a territory of New Zealand, made an offer to the main country to supply men after World War One broke out in 1914. About 500 men were sent to the war, nearly six percent of the population at the time. For many, it was an immense culture shock, as they left behind the warmth and familiarity of the islands to be thrust into some of the coldest places in New Zealand where they were subjected to military discipline and trained for war. These men became part of the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. They carried out construction, engineering and trenching tasks, often under appalling conditions, some also went to Gallipoli with the Māori Contin-gent. Another group was formed to serve in Palestine. Paradise Soldiers talks with family members and discovers the stories of these soldiers that have been passed down through generations.