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In the Year of the Veteran it is with thankfulness, a sense of pride, duty and destiny that we stand together to express our aroha of our New Zealand, and the standards of selfless service which bequeath us such a wonderful country. The character of our Manukau produced the character of the servicemen and women whose souls we summon here today. We join together to give thanks for them of the district, of substance, spirit and strength, who lifted up our land, put aside all pettiness and strove to serve, to win and to never, ever, ever give in …. praise God.

As the new day has dawned, let us recall the young who fought so selflessly that we may share this day of freedom. As autumn lights up our countryside we remember the red blood spilled that we might live, and that we might work to build up a nation on the firm foundations of our fighting fusiliers, our stealthy sappers, the doers among our diggers, air corps and naval personnel.

In each year, ANZAC is the great New Zealand day, tatau tatau together, together, the day to recall those who faced the black and bitter night so that we might live. Each day as I stand for you in the parliament, I am reminded of the lesson of the valiant warriors whose deeds are commemorated in plaques about the chamber. I am inspired by their calling to service.

In the First World War, New Zealand, with a military age male population of barely 250,000, sent more than 100,000 soldiers overseas. 18,000 of these men never returned home, and another 41,000 were wounded.

During the Second World War, New Zealand once more made a massive commitment. Over 200,000 men and women served in our Armed Forces, and 135,000 of these were mobilised overseas. With over 36,000 casualties, our casualty rate was proportionally the highest of Britain’s Commonwealth allies.

The last time New Zealand as a whole had to face the reality of a state of war was during World War II. Since then, however, our service personnel have served in many conflicts, emergencies and peacekeeping operations all over the world. Those deployments include J-Force, Korea, Malaya and Borneo, Viet Nam, Bosnia, the Gulf, East Timor, Bougainville, Afghanistan, and more recently the Solomons. Some of these are still in progress, most notably in Afghanistan.

I want to especially acknowledge the Viet Nam veterans here today. The Viet Nam war was this country’s longest and most controversial military engagement of the last century. I know that for many veterans of that conflict, there is still a feeling that the country doesn’t fully understand the realities of New Zealand’s involvement, and the aftermath for veterans and their families. I remember.

On ANZAC Day we think of those who fought so that our democracy, our distinctive sense of justice and fairness might ensure that each of us is inspired to give our best fully and fearlessly.

This New Zealand democracy, the quality of life that they fought for, has delivered much for Manukau – for now we are a vibrant, rich and diverse community of some 165 ethnic groups. But as we look at today’s wreaths, let us never rest on our laurels. Let us recall those who gave up so much for our common good. Let us focus on the democracy they delivered for us to enjoy today, because like the red poppies of Flanders fields, democracy is a precious flower that needs our continual care, our eternal vigilance.

Winston Churchill used his last Parliamentary speech – almost 41 years ago to this day – to wonder and warn…“what lies before our children if God wearies of mankind”. So let us honour our servicemen and women. Let us join our hearts and minds in reverence and respect for all that our RSAs represent. May God bless us all, encourage each of us to deliver our best in New Zealand – for as we are called so must each of us answer, so that Churchill’s farewell words are forever just a speculation. God will not grow weary of us if we are forever in awe of what our ANZAC means to each and every one of us.

 

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