A Bay of Plenty memorial unveiled by the late King George VI is set for a makeover as part of the region's WWI commemorations.

Rotorua's Te Arawa Soldiers Memorial in the Government Gardens is to be restored for this year's commemorations.

Rotorua's Te Arawa Soldiers Memorial in the Government Gardens. Photo: Supplied.

The memorial was unveiled on February 28, 1927 by HRH The Duke of York (later King George VI) during a Royal visit to New Zealand. Over the years, however, its condition has deteriorated and elements of the structure have been vandalised.

It was erected to commemorate Te Arawa men who fought and died in WWI.

Reinstating significant elements of the memorial is seen as a way to restore the mana attached to the memorial and to those it commemorates. It will also enable future generations and Te Arawa to appreciate a unique piece of the Rotorua district's history.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, who chairs the Rotorua District WW100 Commemorations Committee, says it will be fantastic to see the memorial restored.

'We're very pleased we've been able to attract funding for this project – to restore and preserve an important piece of Rotorua war history which this memorial marks.

'The memorial is one of only a few erected by Maori to commemorate their men who fought and died in WWI. Its restoration will be a fitting way to commemorate our city's contribution to WWI.”

Stevie says the memorial has had an interesting history since being erected in the late 1920s.

'Our committee is delighted with not only the contribution from the Lotteries fund but also the funding and input from other organisations, including from Rotorua's New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute which will bring its expertise and enthusiasm to the project.

'The memorial has been in need of attention for some time now and it's great that we can finally get it restored,” she says.

The project will involve the repair and conservation of the stonework on the memorial; replication of the stone statue of Rangitihi which was badly damaged and removed from the memorial in 1936; replication in bronze of eight original tekoteko and four pou originally surrounded the memorial; and research and development of new interpretive panels.

Restoration will be the most significant project being undertaken by the committee and the aim is to have the restoration completed in time for Armistice Day 2018 (100^th Anniversary of Armistice Day).