Ngā Kiri Kapia - The Gum Diggers

Kauri gum has special significance for A Company, 28 (Māori) Battalion, nicknamed ‘ngā Kiri Kapia’ (the Gum Diggers). Many people in the North used to make a living digging up and selling the solidified resin from kauri trees. Te Rau Aroha museum commemorates the 720 ‘Gum Diggers’ who served with the A company in World War II, giving a glimpse of the wartime lives and experiences of these men.
This is an ongoing project undertaken by the descendants of the A Company and proudly supported by the Waitangi National Trust. Inside Te Rau Aroha museum is a dedicated space where students can explore and engage with the stories, taonga, memories and information that have been generously shared by A Company whānau.
Find out more about the 28 (Māori) Battalion.
21/10/2020 Imogen Rider