Cook Islands Remembrance Army

The Cook Islands Remembrance Army (CIRA) is a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to locating, restoring, and preserving the graves and memorials of Cook Islands servicemen and women who served in global conflicts.

It works closely with the Cook Islands Military History Research Project and the New Zealand Remembrance Army, reflecting a shared mission to honour forgotten soldiers and ensure their stories are remembered. CIRA symbolizes cultural pride and historical justice, ensuring that the sacrifices of Cook Islanders are honoured through grave restoration and online archives.

Cook Islands Remembrance Army activities

• Grave restoration and research: CIRA conducts “Soldier Search Missions” across islands like Rarotonga and Mauke, using GPS mapping to locate and document graves. Over 165 WWI graves have been recorded so far.
• Digital memorials: The Cook Islands Online Cenotaph serves as a repository for service records, photographs, and biographies, enabling families to trace ancestors and contribute information.
• Commemorative events:
  – ANZAC Day: Dawn parades in Rarotonga involve youth groups, veterans, and dignitaries, reinforcing intergenerational remembrance.
  – In 2024, a plaque was unveiled on the grave of WWI heroine Ettie Rout in Rarotonga, attended by Cook Islands and New Zealand officials.