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Friday 29 April 2022
Remembrance at dawn
Veterans and others gathered at Tākaka’s wall of remembrance to lay poppies for Golden Bay servicemen who died in combat. Photo: Anita Peters. ANITA PETERS
Tākaka’s largest Anzac dawn service of the past several years fell silent as a volley of recorded artillery fire spattered across the silent gathering at Memorial Park. “Imagine waking to that?” asked Noel Baigent, president of the Golden Bay Returned and Services Association. “Every single day, every single morning, for days on end, for months on end, in the trenches.” It was a chilly reminder for those gathered in the dark. After a reading by Padre Rowan Miller from the Kahurangi Church, Noel spoke of the importance of Anzac Day’s commemoration of the dawn landing at Gallipoli 100 years ago. Soldiers as young as 18 years old left Golden Bay to serve their country, many paying the ultimate price of their lives and costing this district lost generations. “They never had a chance to marry or have children of their own,” lamented Noel. But he said this day serves to honour all those who have been deployed during every
war, conflict and peacekeeping operation since the Second World War, those who returned changed by what they experienced and those who are serving today in our army, navy and air force. There are over 140,000 New Zealand veterans ranging in age from their early 20s to over 100, not only from WW2 or conflicts in Korea, Malaysia or Vietnam, but also the younger veterans who have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and around the Pacific. They represent endless stories of courage and sacrifice. “Today we recognise all the New Zealand servicemen and women who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country’s name,” he said. While acknowledging the efforts of the Golden Bay Peace Group and the White Poppy appeal, Noel touched on the horrors of the current war in the Ukraine and the impossibility of negotiating or reasoning with a despot such as Putin. The C130 Hercules that flew over Tākaka last Anzac Day is currently in
Europe, assisting NATO to ward off the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Noel also mentioned the ravages of Covid and climate change, and uncertain times in New Zealand with its shortage of housing and increases in rent, food and petrol. “But one thing is certain,” he said. “Thanks to the continued efforts of our soldiers, sailors and airmen, our sovereignty and our freedoms will never be in doubt.” After wreaths were laid by various community groups, the crowd stood for The Last Post, then The Ode, recited by past president and life member Teri Goodall. A silent reflection on the 70 fallen servicemen named on the wall and white crosses of Memorial Park was followed by a simple poem: Remember all the men who died Remember all the battles fought Remember all the tears families shed Remember it was freedom that our soldiers bought. More Anzac reporting on page 2
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THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2022
COUNCILLOR CELIA BUTLER
Three Waters reform continues. I have written previously about the Water Regulation reforms, which run in tandem with Three Waters, and are connected in the sense that the new water Entities will be taking over the provision and charging for water supplies. We have three small water supply schemes: Pōhara, Collingwood and Upper Tākaka. As the Water Services Entities Bill is prepared to be put before Parliament, widespread concern from councils, including Tasman District Council, has been conveyed to the Government about the governance, representation and accountability arrangements for the four Water Services Entities. In response, an Independent Working Group was set up, consisting of 10 mayors representing country, provincial and city councils. That group made 42 recommendations for changes to the Water Services Entities Bill. The key recommendations include strengthening the provisions against a perceived risk of privatisation of water services by proposing a simple form of shareholding as an alternative ownership model, and improving local representation and control. It is not yet known which of the Independent Group’s 42 recommendations will be incorporated into the draft Bill, but they will be known when it goes out nationwide for submissions later in 2022. At that point, TDC will undertake a Ta s m a n re gi o nw i d e co m m u n i t y consultation in preparation for preparing its own submission to the Bill. Council passed a resolution back in September 2021 that “it is vital to gain an understanding of the community’s views once the council has further information from the Government in the reform process”. That resolution is still to be acted upon. There is also now more information available about financial arrangements for the transition to Three Waters. The Government has indicated that it will pay for costs associated with the transfer of assets, liabilities, revenue and staff to the Entities. As part of a two-part financial support package to come, TDC’s share of the first part, (the “better-off fund”), is $22.5m, to be spent on new projects such as housing, emission reductions and adaptation to climate change hazards. Acceptance of this fund is dependent on TDC going ahead with Three Waters,... Continued on page 3
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