Hamilton's war horse statue will be presented to the city at Saturday's special Armistice Day service.
Major (Ret) Simon Marriott, president of the Waikato Mounted Rifles Regimental Association, Hamilton historian Richard Stowers, Dr Ngapare Hopa of Ngati Wairere and Noeline Jeffries, president of the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group and War Horse Board chair, will gift the statue and Mayor Andrew King will receive it on behalf of the city.
Former Defence Force artist Matt Gauldie created the 300kg life-size statue to honour the 8000 horses sent to the South Africa War and 10,000 sent to World War I. Only one horse returned from South Africa, and only four from World War I.
Read more: War Horse statue welcomed to the Waikato
Noeline Jeffries said the whole project was a dream come true. The statue is expected to quickly become a Waikato landmark and a national monument.