Rawi Paterson served with the Australian Army in the Korean War and later became one of New Zealand’s first police dog handlers.
He died two years ago, and now Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, a special gathering will be held at the marae today, where his headstone will be unveiled and his military service commemorated.
Son John Paterson said he was pleased his father now had a headstone on the marae next to his mother and little brother.
He said his father wanted to be returned to the marae because it was "a place of special significance" for him.
Puketeraki upoko David Ellison (87) said it meant there were only two surviving war veterans left from the marae — him and Tai Te Tau.
Mr Te Tau is a Vietnam War veteran, and is now living in Brisbane.
Mr Ellison served in the Malayan Emergency (1948–60), which arose from an attempt by the Malayan Communist Party to overthrow the British colonial administration of Malaya.
"I was a sergeant in the territorials at the time, and I had to take a drop in rank to private to get in because they already had lots of sergeants.
"I took the drop in rank because I really wanted to go."
He spent three years with the second New Zealand battalion, and was there to see the conflict declared over and the celebration of Merdeka Day (Freedom Day).
Mr Ellison said it was sad a generation of the marae’s military service would soon be at an end, but he was passionate about making sure those who served were remembered.
"I feel very sad that there’s only two of us left. I’m not sure how to take it.
"But it feels right to commemorate the service of all the veterans that came from Karitane — Māori and non-Māori.
"We have quite a collection."
While he was sad there were so few World War 2 veterans left to attend Anzac commemorations, he was pleased the services were becoming more focused on more recent conflicts.
