‘Be part of the First World War Centenary’

By Alan Tristram

The Kāpiti Coast is among communities throughout New Zealand being encouraged to take part in the centenary commemoration of the First World War.

The First World War (1914–1918) was one of the most significant events of the 20th Century and had a seismic impact on New Zealand society. Ten percent of the population then of just one million served overseas, with more than 18,000 killed and 40,000 wounded.

The commemoration is called ‘WW100’ and its centrepiece is a new website (http://ww100.govt.nz). Communities, schools, families and workplaces can share what they are doing to be part of the centenary.

‘Discover your stories

Pip Swaney, WW100 Programme Manager, says: “Be part of the First World War Centenary. This is the time to dig into your past to discover your stories – may be even new truths – about how the war touched your family, community or workplace.”

If you’re planning a commemorative activity, project or event, then add it to the Activity section to promote your event and kick start other initiatives around the country.

You can follow the official WW100 programme to see what is being planned by the New Zealand Government. Initiatives underway include the creation of the National War Memorial Park in Wellington which will be ready in time for the centenary of Anzac Day in 2015.

New Zealand at War timeline

To find out more about the First World War, the New Zealand at War timeline highlights key events back then. The News section tells you what’s happening including information on Lottery funding opportunities.

The WW100 website will be further developed in the lead up to the centenary to include an events calendar, resources to support communities with their planning and activities, and more connections to authoritative historical content online.

“If you are starting to plan a WW100 activity, project or event and need advice, contact the WW100 Programme through the website — organisations can also register to use the WW100 symbol,” says Pip Swaney.

The WW100 Programme Office is a joint Government initiative — funded by the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the New Zealand Defence Force.

To be part of the First World War Centenary, contact Hazel Dobbie, Communications Adviser WW100, hazel.dobbie@ww100.govt.nz (021 745 288)

http://WW100.govt.nz | twitter/WW100NZ | facebook/WW100NZ

Return to Home Page

STORY OF THE WEEK

Kāpiti Coast councillors have toured of one of Aotearoa's unique buildings, the heritage - listed Rotunda at the former Otaki Health Camp, the country’s first.

Jeremy Smith reports that the 105-year-old, eight-sided rotunda predates the Health Camp.

It wasn't actually built in Otaki, but was one of two built in Rotorua in 1915 as part of a military hospital, on the site of Rotorua’s present public hospital.

Later they were taken to Otaki for the opening of the health camp in 1931.

Full story in the main column (December 19).

100 Years Ago — and the Maori Long March begins

Māori politics was dominated by the influential MPs (and sometime Cabinet ministers) Māui Pōmare ( Waitara statue photo above) and Apirana Ngata.

The 1920's also saw the rise of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana’s religious movement, and the emergence of Te Puea Hērangi in Waikato.

Ngata worked hard to foster Māori scholarship and education and preserve traditional arts and culture.

He convinced the government to establish a Board of Maori Ethnological Research (1923), a Maori Purposes Fund Control Board (1924) and a School of Maori Arts and Crafts in Rotorua (1927).

The Reform government also took the first, tentative steps towards settling longstanding Māori grievances.

Agreements with Te Arawa in 1922 and Ngāti Tūwharetoa in 1926 recognised their respective rights over the Rotorua lakes and Lake Taupō, and led to the establishment of trust boards with some government funding.

Commissions of inquiry which examined Ngāi Tahu grievances (1920–21) and the Waikato and Taranaki confiscations (1926–27) recommended that modest compensation be paid.

Looks like we have come full circle !, they say things go in cycles and once again we find ourselves on the brink of war and a global financial crash, and once again it looks to be orchestrated by the same greedy buggers as 100 years ago.
All in the name of resources and population control.
To do justice to those that died defending a principle we should honour them with the search for truth, pull the wool away and face the reality of this world.
Sadly most will continue to blindly stumble along blisfully ignorant of the lies and manipulation our politics and system rely on to survive.
turn off the TV, put down the News Papers and look for the truth.

Kāpiti and Coast Independent

Remembering the sacrifices

‘Be part of the First World War Centenary’