Volunteers committed to caring for war memorials are urging the Government to provide more support.
Many of the cenotaphs are now a century old and the years are taking its toll, leading a community in Cheviot, north of Christchurch, to take matters into their own hands.
Cheviot MenzShed chairman Bruce Nichol told 1News the paintwork on the cenotaph standing proudly in the rural town "had been deteriorating quite badly and peeling off".
"The weather had eroded some of it, especially the lettering."
Earlier this year, the local MenzShed began a mission – a volunteer fix-up effort, all free of charge.
"This is just a small town," painter Mike Botica said. "Everyone looks after everyone and everyone says hi to everyone."
The men applied for the council’s support to fund two new stainless-steel panels with the names of the soldiers burnt on.
The panels went up two weeks ago as some locals stayed to watch.
Among them was Owen Carmine, who realised a member of his extended family – Trooper Lewis Maurice Leaman, who died at Gallipoli – was on the Roll of Honour.
"I didn’t know he was on the memorial here," Carmine said.
"Maurice paid the ultimate sacrifice, and, in my mind, it deserves recognition."
MenzShed project manager Simon Chester the plaques brought the cenotaph "to life".
"They really do look great."
Hundreds of memorials in need of attention
There are around 300 to 400 memorials across the country in need of attention, the NZ Remembrance Army's Simon Strombom says.
Many of them are under control of the council, and the Remembrance Army's now calling for the Government to take over and set up a national commission to ensure all cenotaphs are maintained to the same standard.
"I can’t see it being done any other way," the veteran said. "We’ve got 78 different councils and they all approach things differently.
"We are dragging our feet, collectively. We stand at dawn and say, ‘lest we forget’ and I challenge that all communities saying pretty much do."
The Government said it would consider the idea.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith said it would be "quite a big step".
"It would be a shift away from local communities being responsible for local memorials, which it has been in the past.
“But that’s something we could look at.
"I don’t think we’re forgetting at all and why would we?"
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