Tamahere commemoration

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.  Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)

I specifically greet you: Minister of the Crown, Hon Nathan Guy, Minister of Internal Affairs; Dame Margaret Bazley, Chair of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and your fellow commissioners; Mike Hall, National Commander of the New Zealand Fire Service, your regional and area managers Russell Wood and Roy Breeze respectively and fellow firefighters; Your Worship Peter Harris, Mayor of Waikato District; Waveney Parker, Principal of Tamahere School and your staff and students; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and me to attend this event here at Tamahere.  I have been asked to unveil a plaque to honour those members of the community who came to the aid of the firefighters caught in the Tamahere coolstore explosion on 5 April 2008.  

However, before I undertake this important duty, as I am in the Waikato, I first want to acknowledge the significance of this place.  Tamahere was the birthplace of Wiremu Tamihana, the "Kingmaker" of the Kīngitanga movement.   And, quite appropriately, today is also Kīngitanga Day, King Tuheitia's birthday, which he has given to the University of Waikato to celebrate its relationship with the Kīngitanga.

Two years ago this community was also celebrating.  There was a major gala underway at Tamahere School and a marriage celebration was occurring at another nearby venue. 

Those celebrations were cut short that afternoon when an explosion and fire at the coolstore literally cut a swathe through this community. 
The initial explosion saw flames and debris shoot high into the sky as the coolstore was enveloped in fire.   The eight firefighters who had responded to the initial call were seriously injured and one-senior station officer Derek Lovell-tragically died of his injuries.  I had the privilege to meet many of the survivors of the explosion at the Hamilton Fire Station in June 2008 and to thank them personally for their service.

But while the explosion caused physical damage and much human suffering, it also revealed the strength that lies within many communities.
In such a calamity, it would be natural for those nearby to seek safety away from the disaster.  But that did not happen here.  Many people from two nearby community events, including a gala at Tamahere School, ran towards the coolstores to provide much needed assistance.

Despite significant personal danger and the growing fire, members of the public entered the devastated facility and pulled the trapped firefighters out. Several people attending the gala were specialist medical personnel and they were able to give the injured firefighters the best possible care. If it was not for the response of many people from this community, the human toll from this tragedy would have been much higher.

Looking back at an event such as the Tamahere explosion, it would be easy to simplistically view it as a single linear story.   In reality it is a highly textured tapestry of many stories.  Many Tamahere people played important roles that when woven together tell the larger story of how this community responded to a disaster. Yet like a tapestry, pulling one thread from many not only leaves one with incomplete and partial story, but somehow also diminishes the greater whole.

This commemorative event is an opportunity for those many stories to be told, to be shared and to be collectively recognised. This plaque symbolically recognises the contribution many from this community played in the aftermath of the coolstore explosion.

And in this, the name "Tamahere" is particularly appropriate.  Literally translated from Māori it means a "bound boy".   Behind those words, however, lies the story of  Mahinarangi and her husband, Turongo, the ancestors of the Kingitanga dynasty.  Mahinarangi,  to save her son Raukawa from drowning, tied him to her back as she swam across the Waikato River, near where the Narrows Bridge now stands.  

Just as in that as in that story, the selfless courage and strength that was displayed by many Tamahere people when the coolstore fire occurred was not only vital in helping the injured firefighters, but acts to renew our faith in our fellow New Zealanders.

We all hope and trust that if our lives were endangered, that others would not run away and that they would instead come to our aid.  As someone who was once involved in a serious head-on car collision a few years ago, both Susan and I remain forever thankful to the many people who helped us, from the accident scene to the hospital and beyond. 

So it was when the explosion occurred on 5 April 2008, the people of Tamahere did not look away or flee.  The combined courage of many brought aid and comfort to others at their time of greatest need.  As English poet John Milton once said: "Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war."

On that uplifting note, I will close in New Zealand's first language, Māori, offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

For more photos, click here.