From the dawn services held in the Cook Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand to the solemn ceremony at the Cenotaph in the heart of London, ANZAC Day 2026 saw Cook Islanders honour their fallen in unison across the world. Whether standing on home soil, Auckland, Wellington or on the steps of Westminster, the act of remembrance was the same — a wreath laid, a head bowed, and a people united in gratitude for those who served.
MFAI partnered with the Cook Islands Returned Servicemen Association in Rarotonga to host our national ANZAC service. Her Excellency, High Commissioner to New Zealand, Kairangi Samuela joined the official New Zealand memorial, as well as the Cook Islands commemorations in Wellington, while the Consul General Keu Mataroa joined the remembrance in Auckland.
Ms Sandrina Thondoo, MFAI Director, who was in London attending meetings at the International Maritime Organization, had the honour of representing the Cook Islands at the commemorative parade and wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, led by Her Royal Highness Catherine, Princess of Wales. A wreath was laid on behalf of all Cook Islanders who served in World War I and World War II, and those who stood alongside them in shared service. The day’s commemorations also included attendance at the service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey.
The Cook Islands’ connection to the ANZAC story runs deep. In the First World War, more than 500 Cook Islanders volunteered to serve — a remarkable commitment from a small island nation. Serving under the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), the first Cook Islands contingent provided reinforcements for the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion in Egypt and France. The second and third contingents, known as the Rarotongan Company, were deployed in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns, where they distinguished themselves as formidable soldiers — unloading supplies on the Mediterranean coast and carrying ammunition to the firing line under dangerous conditions.
In the Second World War, Cook Islanders again answered the call. The Cook Islands Local Defence Force (CILDF) was established in April 1941 to protect the islands as war swept across the Pacific, with 425 men volunteering for service. Cook Islanders also served overseas, including Sergeant Alexander Brown of Mangaia, the first Cook Islander to enlist in the Royal Air Force, who served as a navigator on bombers before being killed in action over the Somme, France, at just 24 years of age. Additionally, Cook Islands coastwatchers, radio operators stationed on remote islands, monitored Pacific waters throughout the conflict, a contribution only formally recognised by the New Zealand Government in 2024. Their sacrifice, service, and steadfast commitment to shared values of freedom and peace form an enduring part of the ANZAC legacy.
The Cook Islands also acknowledges, with appreciation, the longstanding partnership and shared history with New Zealand and Australia, whose inclusion of Cook Islands participation in ANZAC commemorations reflects enduring bonds forged through service and sacrifice.
The Cook Islands remains committed to preserving the legacy of its servicemen and women and to honouring their contribution to peace and security.
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