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About Nga Toa

Nga Toa meaning "Many Warriors" in the Maori language is a project dedicated to preserving the oral histories of New Zealand’s Returned Servicemen and Woman. To date, over 200 interviews have been compiled in the Nga Toa video archive.

Content Category : Testimonials

Associate Professor Glyn Harper.

Director Centre for Defence Studies, Massey University.

"For a number of years now Patrick Bronte has been recording the experiences of New Zealand veterans. The result is a collection of interviews that is remarkably revealing in what is like to be a New Zealander at war. This project is a pioneering work of oral history and one of immense significance to New Zealands understanding of its military heritage."

Dr Chris Pugsley

Senior Lectuer, Deparment of War Studies, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

"I am full of admiration for the work Patrick Bronte has done. His empathy with the veterans is heightened by his own personal situation and his interviews reveal the realities of the New Zealand experience in war in a manner that enhances the humanity of both the interviewer and those interviewed."

Dr Ian McGibbon ONZM

General Editor (War History), Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington.

"I am most impressed by the skill and determination with which Patrick Bronte has undertaken his project to interview veterans of New Zealand’s wars. He is able to draw from his interview subjects enlightening and valuable information that might otherwise be lost. His efforts to preserve our military heritage are to be commended, and they will be of immense value to future generations seeking to understand the hopes, fears and experiences of those who took part in New Zealand’s twentieth century wars".

Robert E. Perdue, Jr., PhD

Veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, F Company, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1944-45. Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.

"Patrick Bronte is a credit to his generation and a testament to the fact that each of us can make a substantial contribution to society despite any handicap. Future historians will credit Patrick with the preservation and distribution of information now hidden in archives that may not otherwise have seen the light of day. This web site is phenomenal and a credit to the brave men of New Zealand who gallantly served in World War II."