Pukeatua’s tiny War Memorial Church marked Anzac Day on Sunday with a ceremony led for the most part by members of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club.
The deviation from the norm was to mark the 10th anniversary of the relationship forged between the church and the club’s Hauraki Chapter.
The church is one of just two in New Zealand built as a memorial to service personnel lost in both world wars. The other is at Tutira, north of Napier, and both have historic building covenants over them.
The line-up outside the Pukeatua War Memorial Church after the service ended with a 1942 Ford GPW, owned by a local resident who attended the service. Photo: Viv Posselt
For the past decade Patriots club members have travelled to Pukeatua from around the North Island to commemorate both Anzac and Armistice days. Their members are all ex or current servicemen who share a deep affinity with soldiers lost in both world wars and in conflicts since then.
Sunday’s service also saw the official blessing of a new flagpole gifted to the church by the Patriots. The concrete slab in which it stands was provided by the Te Awamutu and Districts RSA.
Te Awamutu Community Cadet Unit members Kaiārahi Quinn, left and Pikirangi Rangiawha laid a wreath. Photo: Viv Posselt
In another ‘first’ for the tiny church, Patriots member Jack August brought with him a pounamu stone in honour of a friend and fellow Patriot member who died last year, Warren Kahutia Sole.
After placing it on the cenotaph, he said: “It is often difficult to get people together when saying goodbye to a friend. I knew of the Māori principle of ‘mauri’ where a person’s life force can be embedded in a stone … so I gifted four pounamu in his name. One is in at Burnham, another at Linton, one in Whanganui and another in Taupō. It is the Taupō stone I have brought here today so we can all be a part of this together.”
Blessing the new flagpole donated by the Patriots club is one of their members, Pererika Makiha. Photo: Viv Posselt
Patriots member Peter Leslie, who also acted as bugler, said club members had been to services at the Pukeatua church twice a year for the past decade, with the exception of one Anzac Day service missed during Covid.
RSA padre Rev Murray Olson and lay minister Kathie Claypole conducted the service.
Olson said Anzac Day services are intended to show gratitude to all those who served in the two world wars, and in subsequent conflicts, and to those still serving.
“We especially remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We must never forget them because they died so we can have the peace we enjoy today.”
He thanked Patriots group members for their support over the years.
Taranaki-King County MP Barbara Kuriger, attending the Pukeatua service for the first time, stressed the urge to remember the fallen and said, “when are we going to learn from all of this?”
RSA padre Rev Murray Olson and lay minister Kathie Claypole after the service. Photo: Viv Posselt
The pounamu placed on the cenotaph by Patriots member Jack August in memory of his friend and fellow Patriot, Warren Kahutia Sole, who died last year. Photo: Viv Posselt
Te Awamutu RSA president Daniel van der Hulst gently touches the pounamu left in honour of former Patriots member Warren Kahutia Sole, watched by the Te Awamutu RSA’s Lou Brown. Photo: Viv Posselt
Patriots club member Dane Sorenson handled the flag-raising at the ceremony, with parade commander and Patriots club member Warren Banks taking the salute. Photo: Viv Posselt
