the men have no memorial in New Zealand
But instead of a solemn moment, Mr McCully arrived at
however a monument stained with fish guts and human excrement.
Clearly embarrassed New Zealand diplomatic staff said they had tried to maintain the monument - paid for by the Australian Government - but had been unable to fend of continued vandalism.
The New Zealanders, who were despatched to the then Gilbert Islands to act as coastwatchers to prevent German raiders operating in the Pacific, were largely abandoned after Japan entered the war.
The Japanese executed them by beheading and later burnt their bodies.
No attempt has been made to find the bodies and the men have no memorial in New Zealand.
They also left behind i-Kiribati children.
Mr McCully said he would seek to repair the fact that the
however men were never acknowledged at home
