receive unclaimed medals in ceremony
The whānau of 24 Māori Battalion soldiers who fought in World War II have received their unclaimed service medals at a ceremony in Upper Hutt.
New Zealand government policy after World War II was that former service personnel would have to apply for their medals, which would then be sent to them through the post.
This was to avoid the problems experienced after World War I, when about 10 per cent of medals posted to ex-service personnel or their families were returned because of out-of-date address information.
Link to article: Families of Māori Battalion soldiers receive unclaimed medals in ceremony - NZ Herald
