A group of young men from Northland have headed to Italy to mark the 75th anniversary of what is regarded as the most brutal and costly battle involving the Māori Battalion.
Seventeen young men from Te Kāpehu Whetū's Leadership Academy of A Company - which pays tribute to the 28th Māori Battalion - left for Italy on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cassino.
Rangatira Keerako, 17, and Zenith Sayer, 15, said they had been learning a lot about the battle prior to their trip.
![Rangatira Keerako, 17, said the students would pay respects to their tūpuna (ancestors) who fought in the Battle of Cassino. Photo / Michael Cunningham](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/R4MX72EMZ6ECU7D6WTPAJHW5OU.jpg?auth=604ba21e74d63b5e5dd90093e54d51f52f337906c80197a199093bf519936ed9&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Keerako said he had known about this trip for two years so was "speechless" now it was happening.