One week till ANZAC Day

On what is the second year of New Zealand's 100 year commemoration of World War One, a full list of commemorations and events across Hawke’s Bay are being planned.

Hastings RSA has services organised in the city centre, at the Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Havelock North, Clive, Maraekakaho, Waimarama and Te Hauke Marae.

For ANZAC Day (April 25) in Hawke’s Bay this year, HMNZ Te Kaha will be berthed at Port of Napier.

The arrival of the frigate, along with the logistics and support ship HMNZS Endeavour, will be the largest ever naval presence in the Bay for an Anzac Day.

Royal New Zealand Navy liaison regional officer Lieutenant Commander Neville Smith told media that “Hawke's Bay has a very strong linkage with the navy”.

As well as the region being one of the top recruiting areas it also had a long history - going back to when the crew of the HMS Veronica, which was tied up in Napier, were pressed into action after the 1931 earthquake struck.

On Saturday, April 23, the officers and ships company of HMNZS Te Kaha will assemble at the Sound Shell on Marine Parade at 11am.

Lieutenant Commander Smith said the first moves to create the association between the city and the frigate were first sparked about 18 months ago when naval personnel approached him with the plan.

Other Anzac-related events include Wellesley Binding’s exhibition ‘At the Wild Shore’, which opens at Hastings City Art Gallery in Civic Square on April 23.  Binding’s paintings are aresponse on a personal level to the battles of the First World War. The Gallery is open on ANZAC Day and Binding will be giving a free floortalk at 11am on that day. At the Wild Shore runs until 22 May.

Commemoration Services in Hastings

5.30am Hastings Cenotaph, Civic Square

10am Hawke’s Bay Hospital Soldiers Memorial, Hawke’s Bay Hospital

10.30am Havelock North Cenotaph

9.20am Clive Cenotaph

9.30am Maraekakaho Hall

6.30 am Waimarama Hall

9.00 am Te Hauke Marae

For more information contact RSA Hastings: 06 878 8808

4 October 2017

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