Occupying a prominent position at the junction of Queen Street and St Aubyn Street in New Plymouth, the Cenotaph is a striking memorial to the generations that died serving in the First and Second World Wars, and other twentieth-century conflicts. It holds historical significance as a powerful symbol of the impact of war on the local community. Constructed of local andesite stone, the Cenotaph’s strong sculptural form reinforces its commemorative purpose and symbolic weight.

Māori settlement of Taranaki is thought to have occurred between 1250-1300 CE. The fertile soils and mild climate of the rohe supported lush forests and plentiful birdlife for food, as well as rich natural resources and proximity to the coast for fishing. For generations Taranaki Māori established kāinga and māra kūmara (kūmara gardens), and where they built imposing hilltop pā. Multiple iwi and their hapū have mana whenua of the area surrounding what is now the city of New Plymouth – Maniapoto, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Taranaki Iwi and Te Ātiawa.

Pākehā arrived in the region in 1828, establishing a trading station at Ngāmotu. Planned settlement of New Plymouth began in 1841, with immigrants from Devon and Cornwall to the fertile land beneath the slopes of Mount Taranaki. The New Zealand Wars of the 1860s had a devastating impact on tangata whenua. Large areas of land were confiscated from Taranaki Māori in arbitrary and punitive acts, leading to prolonged conflict. The wars prevented development of the city until the establishment of the port and railway in the mid-1880s, after which it gained steadily in population.

In the aftermath of the First World War, memorials to those who had served and died sprang up all over the country, funded by local communities who had lost sons, husbands, brothers, and friends. In 1923, five years after the ending of the war, a War Memorial Committee met in New Plymouth to appoint an architect and promote additional fundraising. The Committee resolved to appoint Frank Messenger, New Plymouth’s senior architect, to draw up plans and estimate costs. Inspired by the Whitehall Cenotaph in London, Messenger’s design was intended to be built from local stone - concerns about cost were raised. Local contractors Russell, McCracken and Handley were eventually appointed to construct the memorial, using grey andesite stone from a Mangorei quarry. Though more expensive, the use of local stone was seen as a more fitting tribute to New Plymouth’s fallen soldiers.

The Cenotaph is a deceptively simple rectangular monument, standing 33 feet (10 metres) high, on a stepped base 26 feet by 20 feet (8 metres x 8.5 metres). On top of the monument sits a symbolically empty casket. The narrower north and south faces contain Crusader crosses, whilst the wider east and west faces are adorned with carved stone wreaths by local stonemason W. F. Short, and the inscription “1914-1918, Their Name Liveth for Evermore”. The Cenotaph was unveiled on 16 September 1924 by Governor-General, Admiral Lord Jellicoe.

Since its unveiling, modest additions have been made. An additional inscription was added in the 1980s by sculptor Filipe Tohe to commemorate the Secord World War, the Korean War, and war in South-East Asia. Bronze anniversary plaques were added to the east face in 1995.

The Cenotaph has been a focus for ANZAC Day remembrance services since its unveiling.