I want to keep my Anzac Day blog simple this year. In many ways, this ode from Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen says it all, and it is beautiful and fitting to have it expressed in both te reo Māori and English.
E kore rātou e kaumātuatia
Pēnei i a tātou kua mahue nei
E kore hoki rātou e ngoikore
Ahakoa pēhea i ngā āhuatanga o te wā.
I te hekenga atu o te rā
Tae noa ki te aranga mai i te ata
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The image above shows the plaque we unveiled here at Te Kawa Mataaho last year in a special Anzac ceremony. Anzac Day is a time to remember the sacrifice so many New Zealanders made for their country. It reminds me that over 8000 public servants served in the First World War, and over 1000 lost their lives. That is the spirit of service in the highest sense. They put their lives on the line to serve their communities – and we are eternally grateful.
Yesterday we took some time at the Commission to gather and commemorate those who went so bravely before us and gave so much. On Monday, as a country, we will remember them.
2022 marks 100 years of the RSA Poppy Appeal in Aotearoa New Zealand. If you can, please do support the Appeal by purchasing a poppy – either in person or through their website. The Appeal is the primary source of funds for the RSA’s extensive provision of support services to the service community – and they thoroughly deserve our support.
Noho ora mai.
