Formats
Kia ora koutou. Nga mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai haere mai ra ki te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
I specifically acknowledge
- Major General Rose King, Chief of Army
- Brigadier Paul Southwell, the Colonel Commandant of the Regiment.
- Colonel Ben Bagley, Regimental Colonel; and
- Major Shay Bassett, the President of the Association
Kia ora koutou katoa.
As Governor-General of New Zealand, and as Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force, it is my pleasure to welcome you in celebration of the traditional Gunners Day Dinner. This evening is as much of a chance to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, as it is a reunion amongst comrades old and new.
I would like to begin by making special mention of an honoured guest here tonight – Maj Gen Rose King – who not only holds the distinction of being the first woman to become Chief of Army, she is the first woman to be appointed as Chief of Service in the New Zealand Defence Force. You should all be very proud that The New Zealand Army Ngāti Tūmatauenga was the first to recognise the leadership of a wāhine toa in this capacity, and I hope the efforts of Maj Gen King sets an example to others in our Defence Force. Maj Gen King, I know you will uphold your duties to the highest standard, just as you have done throughout your distinguished military career.
As Commander-in-Chief, and as your patron, I am proud to continue the Vice-Regal connection to the Royal New Zealand Artillery, which began in 1958. I appreciate the deep significance of this connection, and the Royal association, as every soldier is attested by an oath of loyalty to the Crown of New Zealand.
Since this recognition, Gunners have been a welcome support to members of the Royal family on many occasions, including at State Welcomes, and providing a Guard of Honour during the residence of visiting family members, and even including being part of the Household Guard around Buckingham Palace and the Bank of England.
Artillery has a long and complex history in New Zealand, beginning with the European discovery of this land in 1642. When sailing through what is now known as Golden Bay, the cannons on Abel Tasman’s ship Heemskerck struck a Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri waka, during what was the first encounter between iwi Māori and Europeans.
As European settlement increased, so too did the presence of artillery. Whoever held – or captured – more heavy machinery, held the balance of power in the New Zealand Land Wars. A personal connection for me is my tipuna, Te Ruke Kawiti, who designed the remarkable fighting pā at Ruapekapeka – the site of the final battle of the Northern War in 1846.
Kawiti had just two cannons, versus four cannons, two howitzers, and mortar and rocket tubes on the British Forces’ side. However, Kawiti’s well-designed pā allowed them to withstand the heavy fire and escape. The grass has since grown over Ruapekapeka pā, but the scars of battle left by the artillery still mark the landscape.
Most living New Zealanders can be thankful they have never known the harsh realities of war, and for that we owe a great debt to the brave service and sacrifice of our veterans.
In recent history, the theatre of battle did not truly reach our shores, but hidden amongst the hills throughout our major cities are reminders of how prepared we needed to be should an invasion come to pass. At the heart of that defence was the Royal New Zealand Artillery.
At the top of Wrights Hill in Karori sits the remnants of an old fortress capable of firing a 172kg shell across the Cook Straight, or northward to Plimmerton. Thankfully, the guns inside that fortress were never fired in anger. However, it would have been a great comfort to the people of Wellington knowing it was there, manned by the Gunners of the 10th Coast Regiment.
New Zealand Gunners truly epitomise their motto Ubique – Everywhere. In World War One, you served on the rocky shores of Gallipoli and the mud of Flanders Field. In World War Two, you were among the olive groves of Crete, the sands of the North African Desert, by the rivers of Italy, and in the unforgiving heat of the South Pacific.
In more recent times, Gunners have served in Vietnam, East Timor, in nations across the Middle East, and in Africa. They have offered expertise to train soldiers in the Ukraine conflict, and lent their skills to keep New Zealand safe during the Covid pandemic. Wherever, and however duty is called, the Royal New Zealand Artillery has served admirably.
I can attest to the long-lasting appreciation of service from allies we have fought alongside. Earlier in my term, I had the privilege of visiting the Republic of Korea for the 70th Anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, and to acknowledge New Zealanders’ service during the Korean War.
At almost every engagement I attended, I was invited to sing Pokarekare Ana, a song New Zealand soldiers – Gunners among them – had taught the people of Korea while in service. It remains a deeply beloved tune, translated and sung locally as Yeon-ga.
Over the course of this evening, there will be many more stories to share about the immense sacrifices made by Gunners, serving both here and abroad on behalf of all New Zealanders. Tonight is about honouring that service, and coming together amongst friends. I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight, and the hospitality Te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-tara.
Kia ora huihui tatou katoa.