When the memorial items which helped Jim Ryan remember his fallen uncle were removed from the Napier Conference Centre, it "devastated" the Dannevirke man.
While he was "still hurting" a year on from the redevelopment which saw the roll of honour plaques, Eternal Flame, and "War Memorial" title removed from the centre, Mr Ryan said he felt the Napier City Council was starting to make amends.
"I know I sound critical, and I am, but what they're doing now ... is a good step in the right direction," he said. "If they're going to restore it, put it back better than it was."
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The name of his uncle Henry (John Henry Francis Reid) was one of 300 memorialised on the plaques, while Mr Ryan felt the flame was a symbol of his uncle's spirit, which had been "snuffed out" when it was taken from the centre.