Monday 25 April
Monday morning 25 April I watched on television the National Anzac Day Service from Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. The experience triggered many feelings, thoughts and memories and it is those I'm writing about in this post.
Anzac Day each year, a national holiday, honours those who gave their lives in wars and those who served and returned home. The particular date marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 during World War I.
Prominent
Prominent in the 11 am service was the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir. Here they are singing Wairua Tapuu, a hymn to the Holy Spirit.
Please switch on sound and full screen. At the end click stop then exit full screen to return to the blog.
As I listened to this lovely indigenous singing I was impressed by the earnestness (if that's the right word) of the singers. Serious intent was present. I hope it will be so in other apects of their lives. Teenagers, even senior ones like most of these, don't always get a good brief.
I noticed that not all the singers were Maori or Pakeha. That other ethnicities were represented singing New Zealand music gives me hope that we might be able to keep building 'a together New Zealand.' I'd like us to be called Aotearoa though. I think that's Maori Party policy – and I agree with it. New Zealand is a Dutch name which I've never liked. But I'd like to be known as an Aotearoan. Governor General
New Zealand has a governor general. He or she represents Queen Elizabeth because New Zealand is part of the British Commonwealth. Moves to declare our country a republic have been made from time to time and if that occurs then I suppose the role of governor general will disappear. But that hasn't happened yet.
Thoughts and feelings
More thoughts and feelings
During the service more serious adult thoughts came to me as well. I thought of a man I knew during my working life who had been imprisoned on Soames Island in Wellington harbour for being a pacifist. He was there for some years during the second world war. He was a Christian who thought he should not fight or kill. Numbers of Methodists in New Zealand took that position, though my friend was not from that denomination. War brings up curly questions doesn't it? Every time I think about my friend, questions arise because I found him such a good man. He had my respect.
At the centre
John McInnes
Friday 29 April 2022
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