Sani Elia Marty Lakatani
Born 4 Jun 1936 - Died 17 Jan 2026
- Service number
- Malaya 343238 AWMM
- Vietnam 343238 AWMM
- Also known as
- Sonny AWMM
- S. E. M. Lakatani AWMM
- Sani Elia Marty Lakatani AWMM
- Sani AWMM
- Sani Elia Lagigietama AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
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- War
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Sani Elia Marty AWMM
- Surname
- Lakatani AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- Sonny AWMM
- S. E. M. Lakatani AWMM
- Sani Elia Marty Lakatani AWMM
- Sani AWMM
- Sani Elia Lagigietama AWMM
- Service number
- Malaya 343238 AWMM
- Vietnam 343238 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 4 Jun 1936 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- Malaya 343238 AWMM
- Vietnam 343238 AWMM
- Military service
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- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- Malaya Vessel was Captain Cook AWMM Private Nom Roll 2NZ Reg New Zealand Regiment, 2 Battalion, Headquarters Nom Roll 2NZ Reg British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve AWMM
- Vietnam Corporal/Military Ministry for Culture and Heritage 4th Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand (ANZAC) Battalion, Whiskey 2 Company (1RNZIR) AWMM 1st Australian Task Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- 6RAR history shows posted to Spt Coy (Mortars).
The Honourable Sani Elia Marty Lakatani was born on 4 June 1936 in Niue. As a young man he came to New Zealand, where he undertook compulsory military training under the Military Training Act 1949 before enlisting in the New Zealand Army. He served overseas during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960), operating in jungle conditions as part of New Zealand’s Far East commitment. He later deployed to Vietnam (1961–1975) as part of New Zealand’s military contribution, serving alongside New Zealand and Australian units. His Army career spanned around twenty years across the Regular and Territorial Forces.
Following military service, Lakatani returned to Niue and entered public life. He was elected to the Niue Assembly in 1990 and became a senior figure in the Niue People’s Party, holding ministerial portfolios including Finance. In 1999 he was elected Premier of Niue, serving until 2002. He retired from politics in 2004.
Lakatani wrote a memoir of his life, recounting his childhood in Niue, his twenty-year Army career, and his later political life as a Member of the Niue Assembly and Premier of Niue.
Sani died on 17 January 2026. He is remembered for his military and political leadership, and as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Gaylene and Robert Wilson, and his son Maxwell and partner Juliette. Sani and his late wife, Betty, had four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The Government of Niue acknowledged his service with a State funeral held in January 2026 (Profile written for “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 initiative by Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand). AWMM
About death
- Death
- 17 Jan 2026 BDM 2026/1743
Age 89 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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Memorial
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Related Serviceperson
Sources
- External links
- New Zealand's Vietnam War Veterans. Personal page
http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/veteran/cpl-sem-lakatani
Sources Used - Memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War. New Zealand History online website.
http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/
Further Reference - Australia's Vietnam War
https://web.archive.org/web/20241003003021/https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/
Further Reference - A Year in Review: Online Cenotaph 2020
ONLINE CENOTAPH TEAM
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/2020
Further Reference - Pine, Madison. Sani Lakatani. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 8 October 2020.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/lakatani
Further Reference - Strong, Khalia (20 January 2026). Former Niue Premier and army veteran Sani Lakatani remembered for lifetime of service. PMN.co.nz
https://pmn.co.nz/read/community/former-niue-premier-and-army-veteran-sani-lakatani-remembered-for-lifetime-of-service
Further Reference
- New Zealand's Vietnam War Veterans. Personal page
- References
- Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co.
- Hall, C. (2014). No front line : inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War. Auckland, New Zealand : Penguin Books.
- This record was created from data kindly provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- Information kindly provided by family
- Nominal Roll 2NZ Regiment 1959-1961. Kindly provided by Alan (Archie) Dawson February 2021.
- FARELF Nominal Roll Part 1 1958-1961 - Archives New Zealand, Wellington, CAJN CH189/Box70 41/4/11 (R21234083)
- McGibbon, I.C. (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: a history of combat, commitment and controversy. Auckland, N.Z.: Exisle
- This record was part of “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 commemorative partnership between Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand, where service stories were shared onboard a dawn flight from Auckland to Sydney.
The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.
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