It was a great privilege to attend the final Beating of Retreat of the NZ 24 Battalion at the Auckland War Memorial on Saturday 21 April.  On a beautiful Autumn evening at the Cenotaph thousands gathered to witness an unforgettable and deeply-moving ceremony as with full military honours from the NZ Army 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion, the band playing and saluting gunfire the last 28 veterans of the Battalion led by their commander Murray Adlington paraded for the very last time before the Governor-General His Excellency Rt. Hon. Lt. General  Sir Jerry Mateparae and a large applauding crowd of Aucklanders.  (I knew these were New Zealand troops because as they marched (or were wheeled) past the Governor-General, they smiled, nodded and winked at the Commander-in-Chief).  The ceremony was followed by a dinner in which Murray Adlington gave a remarkably speech supported by Lt.Colonel Chris Powell.  The MC Margaret Burke, as she always does at Anzac Day gave a superb performance with her commentary throughout the ceremony.

Marching off into history - the last veterans of World War ll NZ 24 Infantry Battalion led by Murray Arlington

Today at the Memorial Service in the Museum Hall of Memories I was honored by the Association to give an address.

On the occasion of the final beating of the retreat NZ 24^th Infantry Battalion Association

Memorial Service address by Michael Lee, Auckland Councillor on behalf of the Governing Body Auckland Council. Museum Hall of Memories Auckland. Sunday 22 April 2012.

To the President Murray Adlington and Mrs Adlington, members of the 24^th Infantry Battalion Association, Patron Rangi Ryan, the Association sub committee led by Sandy Davie and Wayne McDonald, wives, widows and family, I bring the warm greetings of the Mayor, elected members and staff of the Auckland Council.

I would also like to acknowledge Lt. Colonel Chris Powell of the NZ Defence Forces and our hosts here today the Chairman of the Museum Trust Dr William Randall and Director of the Auckland Museum Roy Clare and his staff.  Distinguished guests. Ladies and Gentlemen

Last evening like most people here I was privileged to witness an unforgettable and most moving ceremony of the final beating of the retreat of the 24^th Infantry Battalion.

Last evening we were also fortunate to hear superb speeches recounting the history of the Battalion, its battle honours, and its personalities by the Governor-General His Excellency the Rt Hon Lt. General Jerry Mateparae, by the president of the Association Murray Adlington and by Colonel Powell.

The season of Autumn, when every year on and around ANZAC DAY we pause to reflect and solemnly remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for New Zealand in the World Wars of the 20th century, was a well chosen time for such a ceremony.  I would like to congratulate Murray Adlington and the members of the 24 Battalion Association and the members of the Defence Forces who participated in that unforgettable, historic ceremony.

Today we acknowledge and give thanks the members of 24^th NZ Infantry Battalion and their dedicated supporters – living and dead – to recognize and give thanks for their heroic contribution to New Zealand in war – and through the outstanding work of the 24^th Battalion Association in peace.

And recognizing and giving thanks to the Battalion we recognize and give thanks to a whole generation, the Second World War generation, – described by American writer Stephen Ambrose as the ‘Greatest Generation’ – while we are privileged to have the last of those men and women still amongst us.

New Zealanders can be justly proud of the huge national effort the country made during both World Wars.  New Zealand’s contribution in World War ll was remarkable for such a small country – as the saying goes New Zealand punched well above its weight.

As the historian W.B. Sutch wrote “Apart from the Soviet Union, NZ had a higher proportion of its citizens in the armed services than any of the other allied powers.”

Economic mobilization and a unified national spirit meant that New Zealanders on the home front gave the fullest backing to our young men fighting overseas.   As a percentage of national income from 1939 to 1944, New Zealand’s war expenditure was higher than that of Australia, Canada, and the USA and only behind that of the United Kingdom and the USSR.

This economic effort on the home front especially with women stepping into the work force meant New Zealand ended the war with an overseas debt lower by £45 million than it had at the beginning.

Hard to believe now but nevertheless true – New Zealand was a net donor of war aid to both Great Britain and the United States.  And after the war in 1947 the NZ government gifted £10 million sterling to assist the United Kingdom in it’s post-war balance of payment difficulties.

In terms of military achievement and economic performance the national effort of New Zealanders during World War ll has left an example our present day political leaders and economists could well reflect on.

The NZ 24^th Battalion was an important formation in the New Zealand Division whose performance on the battlefield brought so much credit to this country.  As we have heard the Battalion was formed in 1940 mainly from young men from the Greater Auckland Province.

Following the steps of the Roman Legions the Battalion fought in Greece, the Middle East, North Africa, and Italy.  Battle honours include Elasson and Molos in Greece, Sidi Rezegh, Belhamed, Minqar Qaim, El Mreir, El Alamein, El Agheila, Tebago Gap, Enfidaville in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, the Sangro, Castel Frentano, Orsogna, Monte Cassino, Arezzo, San Michelle, Rio Fontanaccia, Pisciatello, Faenza Pocket, the Senio, and Idice Bridgehead in Italy and finally in the last days of the War the seizure of Trieste.

Out of the 3500 men who marched out, 520 were killed and over 1200 wounded.

As with the New Zealand Infantry Division in the Great War, the NZ Division of the Second World War came to be considered by friends and enemies alike as an elite formation. Indeed none other than General Erwin Rommell considered the NZ Division, the best in the British 8^th Army.  It was hard won accolades like these that led the British war historian John Keagan to state “New Zealanders whose settler independence with rifle and spade would win them a reputation as the best soldiers in the world during the 20^th century.”

Essentially because of the battlefield performance of the NZ Division and the decision by the NZ government to keep it fighting in the North African/European theatre – New Zealand and its Prime Minister Peter Fraser earned the respect and personal friendship of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the US President Franklin Roosevelt.  And because of this New Zealand was given a critical role in the post-war formation of the United Nations.

Mike delivers the Governor-General's speech at ANZAC Day 2012

John Mulgan was one of this country’s leading young intellectuals of the 1930s. Like most of the men of the 24^th he was an Aucklander.  After graduating from Auckland University he went on to Oxford where he wrote the famous depression-era classic Man Alone. Upon the outbreak of war in 1939 he joined the British Army rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Mulgan was to make his name fighting with special forces behind the lines in occupied Greece but before this he served in a British regiment in the 8^th Army at El Alamein.

Here after many years absence from New Zealand he was reunited with his countrymen, including friends in the 24^th Battalion.  He wrote in his book Report on Experience:

“Afterwards, a long time afterwards, I met the New Zealanders again, in the desert below Ruweisat ridge, the summer of 1942. It was like coming home. They carried New Zealand with them across the sands of Libya. This was the division that had saved the campaign of 1941 at Sidi Rezegh. The next year, when Rommel came into Egypt, the same division drove down from Syria and up along the coast road against the tide of a retreating army to meet him, and waited for him near Mersah Matruh. They held there for three days. By the evening of the third day, the whole Afrika Korps, had lapped round them and was closing in. Ordered to come out, the New Zealanders attacked by night, led out their transport through the gaps they cleared, boarded it, and drove back to Alamein. Through all the days of a hot and panic-stricken July they fought Rommel to a standstill in a series of attacks along Ruweisat ridge. They helped save Egypt, and led the break through at Alamein to turn the war.”

“They were mature men, these New Zealanders of the desert, quiet and shrewd and sceptical. They had none of the tired patience of the Englishman, nor that automatic discipline that never questions orders to see if they make sense. Moving in a body, detached from their homeland, they remained quiet and aloof and self-contained. They had confidence in themselves, such as New Zealanders rarely have, knowing themselves as good as the best the world could bring against them, like a football team in a more deadly game, coherent, practical, successful. “

“It seemed to me, meeting them again, friends grown a little older, more self-assured, hearing again those soft, inflected voices, the repetitions of slow, drawling slang, that perhaps to have produced these men for this one time would be New Zealand’s destiny. Everything that was good from that small, remote country had gone into them – sunshine and strength, good sense, patience, the versatility of practical men. And they marched into history.”

John Mulgan did not survive the war.  Before his death he wrote of the New Zealand he hoped would emerge from its sacrifices.

“If the old world ends now with this war, as well it may, I have had visions and dreamed dreams of another New Zealand that might grow into the future on the foundations of the old. This country would have more people to share it.  There would be more children in the sands and sunshine, more small farms, gardens and cottages. Girls would wear bright dresses, men would talk quietly together. Few would be rich, none would be poor. They would fill the land and make it a nation.”

“In this country in a dreamed-of future, men will remember names of desert places that have been dignified by fighting, battle honours of a small country, of that New Zealand of the past, and they will share these things as part of a history that will be dear to them. ‘All earth has witnessed that they answered as befitted their ancestry; they endured as the strong influences about their youth taught them to endure’.”

I believe the New Zealand of the 21^st century could well take more time to meditate upon the sacrifices of those of the World War 2 generation, men like those of the 24^th Battalion and to reflect upon the hopes and aspirations, the spirit of national unity, resolution and national purpose of New Zealanders of those times – and the high price for nationhood that they paid for all of us.

As we have heard the 24^th Battalion Association was founded in 1947 and in its dedication to comradeship and compassionate mutual aid it exemplified in its modest and practical way John Mulgan’s dream to make sense of the pain and suffering of war by trying creating a better world – trying to make a better New Zealand.

In thanking the members of the 24 Battalion Association I will close with the words of veteran Alf Hartnell who summing up the Association’s noble objectives in 1986 in the book Citizenship and Remembrance – A History of the 24^th Infantry Association by Gabrielle Fortune and Mara Bebich.  He wrote.

“The song of the hurrying bullet and the whine of the destroying shell could be forgotten.  But how do you forget the years of comradeship fired in the smoking crucible of bloody conflict?

How to close your mind to the needs of those unable to cope with the transition to civilian life? How to forget that among the dangers and discomfort there were times of hilarious comedy and riotous enjoyment?  Together we grew from boys into men.  Together we explored fabled cities of which age-old legends are told.  Together we wrote a new definition of the word ‘comrade’.  How to forget?

Some there were, the far-sighted and wise among us who asked not only how but why?  Need the nobility of sacrificial friendship be buried with the tragedy of human conflict?

The answer came just two years and some months from the day the Battalion was disbanded in Florence.   Immediately, this infant Association established a new concept.  It would have as a main purpose the creation of a fund that would allow it to extend into post war life the same caring concern for each that marked the wartime experience, with a special commitment to helping the disadvantaged and troubled.  Yet it would have no annual subscription.  A decision that reflected a firm faith and trust that these soldiers of the Battalion having experienced so much together, would not fail to care for each other now.”

So it now comes to an end – sadly as all things must – and it leaves me to express on behalf of the people of the Auckland region our eternal gratitude to the members 24^th Infantry Battalion Association.  I am sure that I speak for everyone here today when I say: “Men of the 24^th – you make me proud to be a New Zealander.”

My stepson Zhao Yu (Joe) and his sweetheart Zhang Qin (Ivy) were married on Waitangi Day in a lovely ceremony at St Mathews-in-the-City officiated over by the popular Reverend Clay Nelson supported by Elspeth Lamb.   Ivy was supported by lovely bridesmaids and workmates Hannah and Mini and Joe by workmates Alex and Bain from French Café.  The wedding reception was held at the Castaways resort restaurant with its superb views over the ocean  on the west coast by Waiuku.

Everything about this wedding can only be described as beautiful.  While the whole day was covered by professional photographers I’ve included some of my iPhone snaps to illustrate this post.

the handsome couple Zhao Yu (Joe) and Zhang Qin (Ivy) about to set off for their wedding

St Mathews in the City. Joe and Ivy sign on the good ship Marriage - witnessed by Reverend Clay Nelson

Joe and Ivy with the Lee family

I was asked by Joe and his mother – my wife Jenny  - to make a speech at the reception which I considered a great honour.  There were great speeches from the MC Matt – one of Joe’s workmates from ‘French Café’, Joe and especially a knockout speech from the Bride Ivy!   For the record here’s my one:

Joe’s Story.

Greetings, kia ora koutou katoa, nushimen xiangshengmen hinimen hao.

I have the honour to speak here today on behalf of Joe’s mother Wang Jianhua – Jenny.  Unfortunately Joe’s dad and family in China cannot be here but I understand Joe & Ivy are organising another celebration for their relatives in China.

Joe has family from the far north province of Liaoning in Manchuria to the southern most province of Yunnan.

Ivy, Zhang Qin comes from the famous Hunan province birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong and I want to warmly welcome here Ivy’s family her father Zhang Wei Ming, her Mum Xi Sheng Jun and her grandmother Xiong Hui who have travelled 12,000 kilometres to be with Ivy and Joe today.

Lets put our hands together and give them a warm New Zealand welcome on our national day – Waitangi day.

I want to say a few words about Joe Zhao Yu whom I first met when he was 17.

Over that time I have watched him grow to be a man.  My first involvement with Joe went back to even before he came to New Zealand.  Being a practical woman his mum Jenny felt he needed a western name and asked my advice because she feared kiwi people may not be able pronounce Zhao Yu easily – and anyway it was the fashion for Chinese people to adopt a second western name.   As his family name was Zhao I suggested ‘Joe’ – and that met with Joe’s approval – and so Joe he became.

Joe arrived in New Zealand on Queens Birthday Weekend 2000 – he and his mum were reunited at last after many years apart.  It was tough for Joe when he first came to Auckland, teenage is a difficult enough time for any young person –  but Joe had to make major adjustments – when I first met Joe he had no English he was missing his friends and classmates in China – he was quite homesick for China actually. But Joe overcame his challenges through his strength of character, his strong heart – and a wonderful sense of humour.

In those days we lived together in a tiny apartment in Federal Street – so small you had to step aside to change your mind (as the saying goes).

Living so closely together I was able to observe the different phases this interesting young man passed through.   The first thing I noticed was Joe’s deep attachment to his computer – which really was his lifeline to China.  Joe would spend endless hours day and night on the computer, surfing, chatting, downloading music and movies and playing games. Young people do this all around the world – but the phenomenon is so prevalent in China affecting millions of young people they have a word for it -  ‘Zhai’ which translates as ‘indoorsy’.  Joe therefore was for a time a Zhai Nan – or ‘indoorsy boy’.

Joe was also keen on Gong Fu– and Joe practice a lot of Gong Fu and Tai Chi moves – usually in front of the mirror or his mum and me.  Anyone round at our house this morning would have seen Joe doing some Gong Fu moves (which he tends to do whenever there is a captive audience).

Around about this time there emerged another Joe  – ‘Guitar Joe’ this involved first of all Joe growing his hair long and practising to the sound of heavy metal music with an air guitar in front of a mirror.  Joe soon graduated from air guitar to an electric guitar which his Mum bought him and thus he was able to join in with the downloaded heavy metal and add his own heavy metal to the din.

Then there was Wolf boy Joe.  Joe became very interested in wolves. Wolf posters appeared all round his bedroom wall, wolves appeared on his computer screensaver, and  his email address was and still is JoeNZWolf.  When Joe watched the movie ‘Dances with Wolves’ he was enormously impressed – I think Joe understood the deeper meaning of that movie more than most. Wolf boy Joe as wolves tend to do would stay out late at night.  The first sound you would hear is the apartment door unlocking, then a friendly little wolf howl ‘Aoooh’  which I would respond to.  Then the next sound would be the fridge door open – wolves being famously hungry.  seriously I think identifying with the wolf spirit gave Joe strength and resilience during his lonely first years when he was a stranger in a strange land.

Then there was nightclub manager Joe – in 2005 Joe and his mum took over a garage in Anzac Avenue and turned it into a nightclub – Joe’s Beehouse bar in Anzac avenue.  This actually was a pretty cool place with a lot of Santana music and the only bar Jenny has ever actively encouraged me to patronise.  There were always lots of people there – trouble is apart from some successful university functions most of the regulars were Joe’s mates which meant it didn’t make much money – and so it was eventually sold. But the responsibility of running a club provided an invaluable life and work experience for Joe.

Then Joe became interested in motorcycles and again with the help of his mum ended up with a very powerful Yamaha bike.  This proved to be very useful for Joe as he would travel by motorbike across the bridge every day to the North Shore International Academy run by the famous pioneer restaurateur Otto Groen.  Here Joe discovered his true vocation and his passion – cooking. And cooking western dishes.

I think I can take some credit if you don’t mind me saying, in stimulating Joe’s interest in cooking. This goes back to when Joe had only been in NZ a few weeks.  It was my turn to cook, it was winter, I was late back from work and Joe was cold and hungry.  To Joe’s amazement I carried in a large leg of lamb which Joe hadn’t seen before – a huge slab of meat and bone. Joe despite his evident hunger seemed doubtful whether this could be transformed into anything edible. I finally got it into the oven and Joe sat on the floor next to the oven window for 45 minutes gazing with fascination as the leg of lamb was slowly transformed into a roast joint.

Joe graduated from Otto’s school with distinction and as his preference was to work in western restaurants he went to work at places like the Portside café and bar at Wynyard Quarter, Sage restaurant in Mission Bay, the Igquacu in Parnell and finally in 2008 the prestigious French Café.

Here Joe has found his true metier.  Joe loves working with an international group of chefs under the guidance of Simon Wright and has steadily advanced his knowledge and his career working in New Zealand’s best restaurant.    Joe is also a keen competitive chef – competing every year for the last five years in the NZ Culinary fare competitions at the Epsom Showgrounds, competing against the clock and a host of other chefs and winning silver and bronze medals every time – cheered on by mum and loyal friends.  Joe has his own site dedicated to his own culinary creations and ideas: http://weibo.cn/chefjoe

and on FaceBook: Joe Zhao and another site:spaces.live.com/joenzwolf

As I said Joe has always had plenty of friends.  There are two reasons why I think this is:

1)   Joe is a very thoughtful, gentle kind-hearted person.  A couple of times over the past 12 years I became quite ill and was for a few days pretty crook.  Jenny who is a nurse asked Joe to help her look after me when she went to work – instructing him how to administer medication and so on.  Joe was very good at this – I will always remember his kindness to me.

2)   Secondly Joe has a marvellous sense of humour.  When we were in the Federal Street apartment the whole building was slowly overcome one night with the most foul smell.  The building caretaker and myself eventually traced the apartment but we were unable to get in.   It turned out that the Korean boy next floor down had been boiling some meat and then decided to go out.  The pot boiled dry and the meat started to slowly burn which gave off the awful smell – but the caretaker was also worried about a fire.  The only way was to get in through a very narrow upper window.  There was only one person agile and lithe enough to do this – and this was Joe.  We managed to hoist him up and with some difficulty he managed to wriggle through.  He got to the stove, turned it off and brought out the offending pot and its contents which the caretaker disposed of.  At last the dreadful smell went away and the word travelled round and soon Joe became the hero of the whole building.  People came out to thank him.  We were back in the apartment speaking admiringly about Joe when he came in – and obviously inspired by the Athens Olympic Games which were on at that time – he picked up a bunch of flowers from the vase, crooked them in his arm and with the other waved and bowed at imaginary crowds – as heroes do.

Finally I want to say Joe is admired and loved not just by me but my own family, my daughters Michelle and Annabelle and my brother Bernie, sister Peggy and her husband Stuart and sister in law Anastasia and my son-in-law Ernest and Michelle’s partner Brent who are all here today to support Joe and Ivy.

And this brings me to the happy ending of this story – and the happy beginning. In 2009 Joe met his true love Ivy – Qin.  Joe being a handsome boy with an outgoing nature always has had girls interested in him but Joe has always been quite choosy and had very definite ideas about what he wanted in a girl – two things really – tall and beautiful.    But Ivy is more than tall and beautiful – she is well educated, well organised, and hard-working.  So we offer our congratulations to Ivy’s family for raising such a beautiful, exemplary young woman.  The beautiful ceremony in St Mathews today was the idea of Ivy – the reception in this remarkable beautiful setting was Joe’s idea.  This sums up their different and complementary characters.

Working as a team Joe and Ivy now have their own home and are ready to start a family.

Mission accomplished. Mums' work is done. Joe's mum Jenny Lee after witnessing the marriage - and in the background Ivy's mum Xi Sheng Jun.

I now want to pay tribute to Joe’s mum Jenny.  We take for granted the fact that China is prosperous and strong but we forget the hardships and struggle these people had to go through in our own lifetimes.  Most of her life Jenny has worked hard to support Joe – even when she was thousands of miles apart from him.  I know just how much she loves him.  For Joe to be successful in a career he loves, to have his own home, and to marry such a fine girl as Ivy is deeply important to her. So for Jenny today is a dream come true. Congratulations to you also. Lets hear it for the mother of the Groom.

Joe and Ivy - sunset on a day they will remember all their lives - and so will we.

And so ladies and gentlemen as the fair ship of Joe and Ivy’s marriage sets sail upon the sea of life let us wish them bon voyage.    May grace and good fortune shine down upon this beautiful young couple.   Please join me in a toast to Joe and Ivy.

When the American writer Stephen Ambrose referred to the young men and women who served in World War ll as ‘the greatest generation’, he could not have more aptly described Jim Holdaway as the epitomy of that generation – a generation which has sadly all but passed into history.   Jim Holdaway died last week after a life of service to his country in war and in peace.

It could be said of New Zealand that its finest hour as a modern country was in the great global struggle of World War ll.   During the Second World War it is fair to say New Zealand performance was remarkable and out of all proportion to its size.  New Zealand had a higher proportion of its citizens in uniform than any Allied nation apart from the Soviet Union.  During the intensive and exacting years of 1942-1944 New Zealand committed more in terms of war expenditure as a percentage of national income than any other Allies apart from the United Kingdom.

The quality of New Zealand’s armed services, the elite calibre of the 1^st NZ Division, and the commitment and ability of its personnel on land, sea and air was to bring New Zealand enormous international prestige.  Because of this New Zealand and its prime minister Peter Frazer were deeply respected by the Allied war leaders Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt. This hard-won prestige and respect earned on the battlefield meant that New Zealand became a key player in the post war settlement – especially in the formation of the United Nations.

Raised on a farm in the Great Depression at the outbreak of war Jim Holdaway volunteered and served with distinction as a flight-lieutenant in the RNZAF.  Seconded to the RAF he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for carrying out missions over enemy-occupied Europe and North Africa with ‘courage and determination’.   Flight-lieutenant Holdaway earned a bar to his DFC flying mosquito fighter-bombers in the highly hazardous task of a pathfinder for bombing raids on Germany.

After the war Jim became a pilot on passenger aircraft for BOAC.  He then returned to New Zealand with his remarkable and beautiful English wife Ann. Having discharged his duties as a soldier with courage and distinction, Jim returned to the peaceful pursuit of farming.  At semi-rural Northcote before the building of the Harbour Bridge he and Ann began a family and had three children Nigel, Mark and Sarah.  Here too Jim and Ann working side by side broke in a market garden and then a 200ha farm in Dairy Flat.  Always a civic-minded person Jim became increasingly drawn into in local government and in 1953 was elected to the local Northcote Borough Council. In 1959 he was elected Mayor and served in this role for 9 years. He also served on the Auckland Regional Planning Authority.

Jim’s great achievement in local government was in 1963 when after years of hard work and lobbying along with fellow intellectual politicians like Dove-Myer Robinson, Hugh Lambie and Lee Murdoch he helped form the Auckland Regional Authority, (ARA).

The ARA was critical to the development of Auckland as a modern city. The ARA was responsible for the Auckland International Airport, the building of 5 major water storage dams, the comprehensive upgrade of the Mangere wastewater treatment plant, major landfills, the building of arterial roads like Balmoral Drive and Ian McKinnon Drive, the creation of the ARA Bus service – the biggest bus company in New Zealand, regional planning, – and the achievement most dear to Jim’s heart, the regional parks network.  The ARA in its early years had enormous mana because of the scale of its achievements and because of the stature of its leaders.  In many respects the ARA was more powerful than the present ‘Super City’ as the ARA unlike the ‘Super City’ had all of its functions under the direct control of its elected members.

The history of Auckland’s regional parks is set out in Graeme Murdoch’s excellent book ‘Dreamers of the Day’ published by Random House in 2010. See: http://www.mikelee.co.nz/2010/10/dreamers-of-the-day-book-launch-regional-parks-and-the-legacy-of-regional-government/

Auckland’s regional parks network was first envisaged by the visionary planners and regionalist politicians who founded the ARA – men like Dove Meyer Robinson, the regional planner F.W.O. Jones, Arnold Turner (the last living founding member of the ARA) and Jim Holdaway.  They were aware that the nearest national parks lay some 400km from Auckland and were anxious both to provide outdoors recreation outlets for Auckland’s rapidly growing population, and to protect the region’s outstanding  coastal landscapes from suburban sprawl.  Building on the existing Centennial Memorial Park the ARA stepped in to acquire prime beachfront area at Long Bay and Wenderholm before they were cut up as coastal subdivisions.  Jim Holdaway took an active role in these decisions and in the acquisition negotiations.

Founding Fathers. Jim Holdaway and Judge Arnold Turner - founding members of the ARA and founders of the Regional Parks network in October 2010

From that time onwards Jim always retained the keenest parental interest in regional parks and the ARC. During my time as chairman of the regional parks committee (1992-95) and as chairman of the ARC (2004-2010) Jim nearly always accompanied by Ann, religiously attended ARC events and functions – especially regional parks events.

After retiring from regional politics, Jim served on numerous government bodies, often as chairman, including the Urban Transport Council, The Nature Conservation Council, the Hauraki Maritime Park Board and the Auckland Conservation Board. He became increasingly interested in conservationand natural history and later served on community based environmental groups like the Tree Council, the Motutapu Restoration Trust, and the Hauturu Trust, amongst others.

In 1991 he was appointed by the National Minister of Conservation Denis Marshall to chair the Minister’s ‘Technical Working Party on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park proposal along with Marjorie van Roon and Jan Crawford.

Jim’s working party received 764 submissions and held 30 consultative meetinges. They came down strongly for a national park in the Hauraki Gulf.

Jim’s key recommendation on page 112 of the report is:

“1. That Option 4, which would establish a Hauraki Gulf National Marine Park, administered by an appointed Commission advised by a broadly representative Consultative Panel, be further developed as the preferred option.”

Jim’s park proposal meet opposition from conservative elements and many local councils – and it was shelved for some years by the government.  It was finally revived in 1995 after passionate lobbying from Jim and other conservationists including myself.  However the park proposal when it was finally produced was a considerably weaker version than the model Jim and his technical working party had recommended and is in many respects a ‘virtual park’.  There is no park’s commission or indeed any management structure – and the designation “National Marine Park” does not appear in the in the empowering legislation, the ’ Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000′.

I was present in early 1999 when Jim in arguing before a select committee to strengthen the Park along the lines of his original recommendation managed to persuade the MPs to include within the Park the waters of the Hauraki Gulf  (Part 3. s.33(d) – along with the DoC islands and the seabed.   Despite its  shortcomings (which can and must be rectified) the legislation was finally passed into law in February 2000 by the Labour-Alliance government. Jim Holdaway will always be remembered as the father of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Mike Lee with the late Jim Holdaway 'father of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park' in June 2009 on the eve of the DoC pest eradication of Rangitoto Island

I saw Jim quite frequently in recent years, usually on a regional park or out one of the Gulf Islands.  We had long telephone conversations in which he would talk about Robbie and the early years of the ARA.  In 2009 he wrote to me asking me to stand for mayor of the new Super City and pledging his support.  I was deeply touched and honoured.

It was November when I last saw Jim – by then he was already hospitalised.  The sudden and tragic death of a beloved son-in-law Grant had badly shaken him and sent him into a downward spiral. However in November despite failing health he still retained his physical strength and was able to join Ann, my colleague Sandra Coney and myself for afternoon tea where Ann recounted how she and Jim had met in wartime Britain.

Jim passed away peacefully last week.  His funeral service was held at St John the Baptist Anglican Church on Saturday in his beloved Northcote – mourned and eulogised by friends and family before an overflow congregation of admirers who had come to pay their respects to a great New Zealander.

And so he leaves us – having lived to the grand old age of 94.  One of a unique and special breed of New Zealanders – the last of the Greatest Generation – who fought courageously in World War ll and who came back home to build the peace.  A noble man, an officer and a gentleman and a true hero in both war and peace.  We who are left behind owe Jim Holdaway and men like him an enormous debt of gratitude.   I was truly privileged to have him as a friend. Jim like so many of his generation raised in the Great Depression did not have the privilege of a tertiary education – but he was an erudite well spoken man, very much a self-taught scholar who avidly read the classics and who deeply loved Shakespeare. So in summing up Jim’s life it is suitable to quote from Hamlet: “He was a man. Take him all in all. We shall not look upon his like again.”

E.A.Jim Holdaway CNZM, OBE, DFC and BAR. 8 January 1918 – 14 January 2012.

First of all I would like to thank Captain Tim Wilson Director of the NZ Maritime School, and Captain Chris Barradale of New Zealand Maritime School for inviting me and my wife Jenny here this evening – and for giving me the honour of being your guest speaker.  I would also like to acknowledge Captain Ben Johnson and Captain John Franklin of the Company of Master Mariners and all the lecturers and staff of the NZ Maritime School.

Can I also at the outset extend warm congratulations to you the graduate students and sea officers for all for your hard work and success in attaining your certificates of competency – the all important ticket – and especially the award winners here this evening.

Can I also and especially acknowledge Captain Tim Wilson for his achievement over many years building up the the international reputation of the NZ Maritime School through these much more difficult times.

Mike Lee, Joshua Rodgers top student 1st Mates' studies, Director Captain Tim Wilson

When Chris Barradale asked me to speak here this evening I asked him – what would like me to talk about? And his suggestions were:

“1)   Your transition from ship’s officer to landlubber; 2)  Involvement with the Port; 3)      Chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority; 4)   Transport Committee and future wharf access; 5)   Waterfront development and future of Ports of Auckland.”

In other words the story of my life – almost – in 15 minutes.

Luke Grogan winner of Captain Worth Prize for top Mate/Master.

(Captain Worth’s son Geoffrey was a shipmate and good friend of mine. He also became a captain.  He was killed in the Persian Gulf in 1981 when his ship Pacific Protector was attacked by aircraft during the first (Iraq-Iran) Gulf War).

Thankfully Chris has mentioned quite a bit about me and my background in his very generous introduction so I won’t have to go on so much.

First of all I was a ship’s officer – but a rather unique species – a Radio Officer – and thanks to advances in technology now an extinct species (in a way rather like a Chairman of the ARC – why does this keep happening to me?) And truth be known if it wasn’t for the onward advance of technology I might be still at sea.

In regard to the Maritime School (or Nautical School as it was called when I was at sea) just about every deck officer I sailed with on the NZ coast and indeed offshore was a graduate of this school.  The School then had a great reputation – under the leadership of the formidable Captain Alec McMillan – whom I was surprised to learn only passed away last year.

There are some interesting stories about the school I still remember from my seagoing days.  Back in the early 70s when I first went to sea – an enormous amount of time seemed to be spent in the pub.  And the Nautical School seemed to have an important adjunct in a downtown public bar known informally as crank case corner.  This was on the corner of Queen Street and Fort.  It was officially called the ‘Lion Tavern’ but the older guys insisted on calling it the Imperial which I guess had been its original name. There were three big bars on the ground floor and a more salubrious lounge bar upstairs usually with a gent playing the piano.   A remnant of this establishment still exists with a TAB, bar bistro and a backpackers upstairs.

The seafarers, mates, engineers, stevedores, insurance wallahs etc would gather in the middle bar – every day including and especially it seems Nautical School students.  There was a blackboard on the wall emblazoned with the motto – Meliore Contende (‘strive for better things’) and on this wall would be chalked brief messages like 2^nd Mate needed for run job from somewhere, R/O wanted Luhesand, 3^rd engineer Tawanui and so on.

I suspect the high attendance of Nautical school students at crankcase corner before after and especially during their study leave contributed to a number of interesting stories about the school in those days.

Example: A young man up for his second mates was asked during his orals. Instructor:  ‘You are at anchor on an open roadstead and the wind gets up – what do you do?’ Student: ‘Pay out more anchor cable’.

‘Very good’ says the examiner.  ‘Ok wind increases – what do you do now’?  ‘Pay out more anchor cable’ the reply.  This was repeated ‘Ok,’ says the examiner (by now becoming a little frustrated)’ the wind is now up to gale force what do you do now’?  ‘Pay out more anchor cable’ comes the reply.

Says the irritated examiner ‘Tell me ,  Smith (I wont give the supposed name of the student) where are you getting all this anchor cable from’? Came the reply: ‘same place where you’re getting all that wind.’

Another story – this one I have on the best authority is absolutely true.  A young officer who hadn’t been doing particularly well during his orals (possibly because of too much time at crankcase corner), was asked: ‘you have a fire on board, you have a dry powder extinguisher, how would you use it to tackle the fire’?  The student who had clearly not swatted up dry powder extinguishers responded– ‘as per the directions on the extinguisher’.  The examiner sensing he had his man cornered, responded, ‘ But the main switchboard is down – the ship is blacked out -   it is too dark to read the instructions – what do you do now’? The student replied  ‘I would hold the extinguisher up to the light of the fire and then read the instructions.’

Anyway to comply with Captain Barradale’s speech instructions, I should about my transition from sea farer to landlubber.  I started off at sea in 1972 and 1973 on the government owned islands trader Moana Roa running between Auckland and mainly the Cook Island.  I later joined Jardine Mathesons (Indo-China Steam Navigation Company) of HongKong early in 1978 – sailed in bulk carriers on world-wide tramping.   I stayed with Jardines until the mid 80s – and hard-nosed capitalists as they were I have to say they were excellent employers.  During that period I also had a brief stint with the Union Company in Ngapara running between NZ and Australia – I didn’t stay long and went straight back to Jardines.  I then joined OCL in 84 and I was in the container ship Aotea running between Auckland and Japan.  I then in 85 joined the NZ Shipping Corporation.

In 1989 the New Zealand shipping corporation was reflagged, manned with non-union Spanish  and British crews and then sold.  This was a very traumatic time – even to remember it now.   I was caught up in the inevitable the industrial strife, picket lines etc.   The Merchant Service Guild was admirably led by Captain George Kaye and though we won most of our industrial battles – especially in court – we were unable to save the Shipping Corporation from being broken up and sold off.  Looking back that was the time in my life when I transitioned from being a standard sea-going type to someone more actively political.

It is sad even now for me to think of what happened to the NZ Shipping Corporation.   Looking back I believe the company wasn’t that well managed or well led, but I think the fault can be shared around everywhere in the work force from the top to the bottom.  What was needed was someone to be motivating the employees shoreside and seagoing personnel about how this company was owned by NZ, and how critical its success was to New Zealand. Anyway in the end NZ Shipping Corporation and all its assets was sold off for the laughable sum of $8 million dollars.

Of course at the same time communication technology changes were underway and Medium Frequency and High Frequency communications  by morse code were about to be superseded by Satellite communications.  I took the redundancy and went off to Auckland University and study for a Science degree.

Anyway I still managed to get the odd job at sea during university holidays and my last job was on the pipelaying barge Balder owned by Heerema a Dutch company, laying the pipeline between Maui A and Maui B in 1991-92.  It was during this time that a by-election was called for the old Auckland Regional Council for the Auckland Central seat in which I had lived (on Waiheke Island) for some time.  I was always interested in conservation and environmental matters so I stood – and to cut a story short – was elected.  So I paid off the Balder and a few days later was sworn in as an elected member of the ARC.   I was then immediately thrown into the hurly burly of regional politics.  The issue I walked into at the time was the proposed sale of the Ports of Auckland or rather the 80% shareholding – the other 20% was owned by the Waikato Regional Council.  The government of the day had ordered the ARC to sell the Port and it seemed a majority of the largely conservative ARC members were willing to oblige.   But for me it brought back the trauma of the sale of the NZ Shipping Corporation and so fighting to stop the sale of the port was something I was willing to do. The Council’s financial advisers Fay Richwhite were looking at a price of $200 million (which was hopelessly undervalued).  However my election campaign for the ARC did two things.  First of all it raised the issue of the port sale - previously under the radar as a political issue which was taken up by talkback radio, especially Radio Pacific.  Secondly my election shifted the political balance on the council.

The Talkback radio campaign (By Pam Corkery) led to a massive public petition – so after several weeks of debate 2or 3 of the previous pro-sale elected members began to waver and change their minds.  In the end a notice of motion which I jointly sponsored with fellow ARC member and good friend the late Bruce Jesson to resolve not to sell the ARC shares in the Ports of Auckland was carried after a long dramatic debate and in the full blare of publicity – but by just one vote.

Since that time well over a Billion dollars in dividends and capital repayments from Port profits have been returned to the region.  This was used in the first instance to pay off debt – but then to invest in transport and other infrastructure.  The current renaissance in commuter rail services in Auckland, including the Britomart Transport centre, the 30 or so new rail stations and a whole fleet of refurbished rolling stock,  and soon a brand new fleet of Electric Multiple Units, would have been impossible to even contemplate let alone achieve without the ownership and the wealth generated by the Ports of Auckland.

In 2004 as sometimes happens in politics my fortunes dramatically changed when I went from being a political back-bencher to becoming chairman of the Auckland Regional Council.

One of the first major decisions and a somewhat controversial one (though very popular with most Aucklanders at the time ) was our decision to buy back the 20% of shares privatised by the Waikato Regional Council in 1994.

100% ownership of the Port would give us much greater control of the Port.  It would also enable us to extract the 18ha Wynyard Point Tank farm land out of the Port and begin to redevelop it.

This we proceeded to do.

One of the reasons for taking the 17 ha Wynyard Quarter land away from the Port was that we believed the demands of redeveloping this area was taking a huge amount of time and energy which was distracting the Port Company from its core business – servicing ships and their cargoes.

Just about everything you see today at Wynyard Point (including the trams) was planned and financed by the ARC Group prior to the Super City from capital originating from the Port.  But the Wynyard Quarter contains a much greater ingredient of public open space and amenity than could have been enabled under a strictly commercially focussed development by Ports of Auckland.

The other decision which again generated quite a lot of public interest was the joint ARC/NZ Government purchase from the Ports of Auckland of Queens Wharf.  The motives for this was based on multiple reasons.  First of all politically we have had to contend with a quite insistent but uninformed school of thought (if I could call it that) that argued we don’t need a port in Auckland and that the 2 kilometres occupied by the commercial port should be turned into more apartments, parks etc.

Queens Wharf was planned to becoming surplus to Ports operational requirements being used to store imported cars, and imported fruit notably bananas.  We wanted Queens Wharf for two reasons 1) open it up to the public and 2) reconfigure it as the main cruise ship terminal.   The idea rather than accepted the assumption that ships have to be separated from the public here was an opportunity to get the public back onto Queens Wharf with ships.  There was another reason of course and that is the government was keen to make Queens Wharf the number one fan zone and as a site for the famous ‘Cloud’ for the Rugby World Cup.

In April 2010 we completed that transaction and reopened Queens Wharf (3 ha) to the public for the first time apparently in 90 years.  Queens Wharf succeeded admirably as a fan zone despite all the critics back in 2010 who said no one would turn up.  In fact on a number of occasions too many people turned up and extra fan zone space had to be allocated.

Coming back to its ongoing use cruise shipping is in a remarkable renaissance of passenger shipping.  From a handful of visits 10 years ago 101 cruise ship calls are booked for 2012/13.  The Council will fund a new cruise ship terminal of some $25m based on Shed 10.

Eventually Ports will move off Captain Cook Wharf which interestingly enough was used as an overflow fan zone during the Rugby World Cup.  If it does then I would argue that Captain Cook wharf when opened to the public be still used for commercial shipping – the type of shipping which doesn’t required to be kept behind high security fences such as required post 9/11  – ships such as cruise ships, other passenger vessels, naval vessels. research ships fishing boats etc.

But just this evening where I was at Queens Wharf at a function on the Chinese space tracking vessel YuanWang on Queens Wharf West – it was great to see a cruise ship Pacific Pearl on Queens East and lots of people wandering around the wharf looking at the ships.  That was our original vision and its very satisfying to see that vision come to fruition.

As regards the future of the Ports itself – I believe we need to remain on guard against those who continue to lobby for the commercial port to be shut down and transferred to Tauranga.   While Tauranga is and always will be very important New Zealand port , the Auckland Port is uniquely placed and has the major competitive advantage at being situated at the front door of the CBD of NZ inc.

POAL handled $26.4 billion of NZ imports/exports in 2010 which is equivalent to 16% of national GDP.  This includes $9.6 b in exports and $16.8b in imports.  This equates to 31% by value of NZ total trade.  In comparison Port of Tauranga handles 16% NZ trade and interestingly enough Auckland International Airport handles 15% (by value) of NZ Trade.  In addition POAL supports 22% of the Auckland economy and sustains 187,000 jobs

More than this we need to remember that New Zealand is an island nation-  a trading nation.   Shipping is the life blood of our economy.  Furthermore Auckland is a Harbour City - a Port City.   The City grew from the port and economically, Auckland is still critically reliant on the Port and maritime trade.  The south shore of the Waitemata Harbour after all was selected as the site for New Zealand’s capital by our first Governor, Captain William Hobson, who happened to be a Royal naval officer,  precisely because of the excellence of the Harbour.

Finally coming back to sea-faring and to the graduate officers here this evening – I must confess there is hardly a day that doesn’t pass when I see a ship out in the stream and wish that I was on her.  My time at sea, the places and things I visited and saw,  the people I worked with and became close friends with but never saw again, and most of all the humour and comradeship is, very much part of who I am and something I will never ever forget.

As the famous poet and essayist of the 18^th century Dr Johnson once wrote: ‘Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or for not having been at sea.”

As sea officers you have a great and honourable profession – one to be really proud of.  Once again congratulations on your success and best of luck in your future sea-going careers. Thank you.

Last Friday we commemorated the 93^rd anniversary of the Armistice between the combatant powers which ended the Great War of 1914 -1918. The Armistice brought an end to the fighting – though the consequences of the Great War and the events it set in train once unleashed could never be stopped.

Eight million soldiers died in the Great War, 20 million more were wounded, mutilated, made amputees, blinded from gas attacks, became emotionally damaged or mentally deranged.  Millions of civilians also died.  In its wake long standing empires and royal houses vanished. Old countries disappeared and new countries emerged.  From its ruins emerged extremist ideologies of

Silver ferns carved in stone. In a Great War cemetery at Ploegsteert Belgium 1999. Some of the thousands of NZ war graves in France and Belgium. These men were from Auckland. As we mourn the dead of previous wars the system keeps generating more.

hatred and racism.  The consequences of the First World War would lead inexorably to the Second.

The Great War has had a profound and ongoing influence on the course of modern history right up until the present day.

In attempting to trace the major political events of the mid to late 20^th century the American cold war geostrategist Dr George Kennan once wrote:  ‘All lines of inquiry lead back to World War One’.

Kennan believed that for various reasons World War One was (quote) ‘the original catastrophe’. He was supported in that conclusion by the war historian Jacques Barsun who called the Great War ‘the blow that hurled the modern world on its course of self-destruction.’

The Great War also had a calamitous impact on New Zealand.

New Zealand sent more men to fight per head of population than any other nation.

Out of a population of just under one million people, some 18,000 New Zealanders were killed in the conflict and 41,000 wounded. 

New Zealand’s casualty rate in proportion to population was the highest in the British Imperial armies.

Grief was visited onto thousands of New Zealand homes, mothers lost their sons, siblings lost their brothers, wives became widows, children became orphans.  The hopes for marriage, family life and children for thousands of young New Zealand women were ruined because so many young men never returned.  The social fabric of the country itself was weakened by the loss of some of our best and most courageous young men – one wonders how many scholars, scientists, industrialists, achievers, potential leaders? How many great New Zealanders of the 20^th century were lost in the slaughter?

Nearly all of our dead were buried overseas.  More than five thousand New Zealand soldiers – nearly a third of all those killed – have no known grave. 

That is why after the Great War New Zealand became a land of war memorials.

As Michael King wrote: In cities, towns and country villages the war memorials went up.  Scarcely a surname was not represented in the names engraved; some represented a family’s entire crop of young manhood. As one writer has commented, ‘the next generation did not need to be told that the angel of death had passed over the land: they heard the beating of its wings’

Our war memorials and commemoration services such as this have two main functions.

They honour the sacrifice of the fallen and they also recognise the collective suffering of the nation.

It is often said that New Zealand’s national identify was forged by the great sacrifices of World War One. While it is vital we New Zealanders take time to reflect on the meaning of our national identity and our nation  – its past and even more importantly its future, here today, perhaps it is enough that we recognise the individual suffering and sacrifices made by those thousands of young New Zealanders more than 90 years ago.

As the years pass on, in all solemnity and reverence let us renew our pledge to continue to gather to remember them.

   Continue reading →

It’s an honour and a pleasure to be here this morning at the opening of NZ Bus’ new Onehunga depot.

To NZ Bus CEO Zane Fulljames, Central Business Unit manager Jon Calder, General Manager Shane McMahon and everyone involved in this project, my warm congratulations for this magnificent new facility. To NZ Bus staff, family and friends greetings.

 The new Onehunga Bus depot is one element of a major new investment programme roll-out by NZ Bus here in Auckland.

Another key element is fleet renewal and this year we have seen 100 new buses on Auckland streets. The newest buses have been deployed on the flagship City Link, Inner Link and Outer Link services which were launched two months ago.

 The Link services with their distinctively branded, distinctively coloured vehicles have resonated with the Auckland public. 

The early success of the Link services has underscored the strong partnership between NZ Bus and Auckland Transport.  And here I want to acknowledge Auckland Transport CEO David Warburton.  Auckland Transport is the planner and funder of public transport services and NZ Bus is the provider of those services.

NZ Bus Chief Executive and Mike Lee at the opening of the new NZ Bus Onehunga depot

The best of the rest of NZ buses’ new vehicles have been deployed on the popular B Line Dominion Road, Mt Eden Road services. 

It is very encouraging that this investment programme by NZ Bus and Auckland Transport is paying off in increased patronage.

 This year we achieved 67 million public transport trips in Auckland. 78% of these trips were by bus, 15% by rail and 7% by ferry.  So when it comes to public transport in Auckland, bus is by far the dominant mode. And if bus is the dominant mode, NZ Bus is the dominant player in the bus sector.  Of the 67 million public transport trips taken this year – half were taken on NZ Bus services!  This year (year ended 30 September) bus services increased by some 15%. About half of this increase is due to the Rugby World Cup – the other half 7.7% is due to very strong growth in our regular domestic market.

 In regard to the Rugby World Cup on behalf of the Mayor Len Brown and Auckland Council I want to thank NZ Bus for its outstanding effort during the cup.  The effort put in by the whole company, from Zane who sourced extra buses from as far away as Wellington to meet extra demand – to the bus drivers who worked long hours especially on match days.    The Rugby World Cup was not just a sporting event – it was also a major national economic initiative and you all played a key part in it.  We recognise especially the drivers as they have the crucial role as the customers first point of contact.  They drivers are also ambassadors, chauffeurs, and tour guides to the travelling public – whether they be overseas visitors or ordinary commuters.  And they do this job not just during major events but day in day out, week in week out.  So I salute you.

Behind the drivers are a whole team of mechanics, schedulers, bus allocators, cleaners and admin staff.   So my thanks to you all. 

So there is a lot to be proud of in regard to our recent achievements in public transport here in Auckland.  That being said we need to recognise that recent dramatic improvements have come off a very low base. Auckland still lags behind comparator cities, in NZ, Australia and North America. 

There is no ‘Silver Bullet’ solution or formula on how to achieve the further public transport improvements we need to make.  I guess like a successful rugby team – there is no one thing – not one answer but many.  But if there is no silver bullet – there is a golden principle – and that is ‘integration’.

We will soon have Integrated Ticketing, that will enable needed Integrated Fares, and we also need much better integration of services. Integration between bus and train, bus and ferry – integration between Rapid Transit and Quality Transit. 

As NZ Bus is the dominant public transport player in Auckland I make a special plea for your assistance in achieving this integration. 

If we work together there is no reason why Auckland cannot become the best public transport city in Australasia.

Once again – to Zane and the team - congratulations on the opening of this magnificent new bus depot.

It was a real shock to hear of the sudden passing of Tony Bouzaid last week.  Yesterday a very large funeral was held for Tony at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell.   I attended with Cr Ann Hartley and GBI Board member Izzy Fordham.  The Bouzaid family asked me to speak at the funeral along with members of the Bouzaid family and close friends. It was a great honour.   Here is my eulogy for Tony.

‘Walter Benjamin once wrote: “How much more deeply is the leave take loved.  Separation penetrates the disappearing person like a pigment and steeps him in a gentle radiance.”

Tony Bouzaid (1940 - 2011) World Champion yachtsman, successful businessman, committed conservationist, at Glenfern Sanctuary overlooking his beloved Port Fitzroy Great Barrier Island.

To Mal and the family I extend the condolences and deepest sympathy of the Mayor, Councillors and staff of Auckland Council, the Great Barrier Local Board, and the Waiheke Local Board of Auckland Council and the Board and staff of Auckland Transport.  Can I thank Mal and Tanya for asking me to speak here today.

When you get to my age one seems to hear news of people passing away on a regular basis – I suppose is to be expected as one grows older – and to a degree we become resigned to it. 

But when I heard of the death of Tony last Monday morning – it gave me quite a shock – I felt it physically in the pit of my stomach.  And it turns out I wasn’t the only one to have this reaction. 

I am not exactly sure why this was – while Tony certainly wasn’t a young man – he never struck me as being particularly old either.  In fact he appeared much younger than his years, tall, robust, handsome with the bearing and indeed mental outlook of a much younger man.

Tony was always planning a project, setting goals and then working very hard to achieve those goals.  What has notable about him was his confident optimism and his focus on the future.   Then suddenly his future was gone.  I guess that is why the news of his passing was such a shock.

 I worked with Tony in local government and on conservation projects for nearly 20 years – and of course like most New Zealanders because of his and his brother Chris’s great sporting achievements I knew of him much longer than that.

  Chris and John and Sean have recounted the details of Tony’s great achievements as a world champion yachtsman and as a successful businessman. The Bouzaid family contribution to this city is acknowledged with the street name ‘Bouzaid Way’ – quite fittingly at the Viaduct basin.

 I am meant to speak today about Tony’s work in local government and conservation but I just want to something else about him.

Tony was an acknowledged international expert on sail making and sailing techniques – and I still have a xeroxed copy of an article written by Tony for Sea Spray magazine in December 1981.  The article discusses at length and with much experienced-base expertise, and generously illustrated with diagrams; the topic of rigging, tuning and trimming trailer-sailors.  It was typical of Tony that he obviously wasn’t content just to make superior sails – he wanted ordinary New Zealanders, family weekend sailors to gain the maximum benefit from those sails and the maximum satisfaction from their sailing – a pastime he was so passionate about. 

But I am here to today to pay tribute to Tony for his work in Local Government, and his achievements in conservation on Great Barrier Island and in the Hauraki Gulf. 

When Tony and Mal ‘retired’ or semi-retired to Port Fitzroy in 1992, Tony, as a natural leader soon became active in the local community – notably in the North Barrier Residents and Ratepayers Assn and the Port Fitzroy Boating Club.  In 1995 he stood for and won a seat on the Great Barrier Community Board, of the Auckland City Council. Tony served three consecutive terms as a Board Member and in 2004 he was elected chairman of the Great Barrier Island Community Board. 

A modest thoughtful person with an outstanding record of personal achievement behind him, Tony served in the role of community leader with much distinction and integrity – and though local government can often be a thankless task, often personally bruising, Tony presented to his community, to the Auckland City Council and to the world in general a dignified, sophisticated image for Great Barrier Island.

 In late 2007 to the disappointment of many he stood down from local government to dedicate his time to conservation. (I recall attending Tony’s last Board Meeting.) 

Tony firmly believed that that future of Great Barrier lay in conservation tourism and quite typically he set out to put into practice what he preached.  When Tony and Mal bought Fitzroy House in 1992 and began restoring both the buildings and its extensive estate – they set out on a journey which would carry them to the forefront of private sector conservation achievement. 

I refer to Glenfern Sanctuary.  Canon Caroline and Jo have talked about this but I also want to talk about Tony’s achievements here.

Achievements such as the raising and planting of some 20,000 native trees, the creation of an extensive bait station network to suppress rats, the reintroduction of North Island robins to Great Barrier, and then finally the erection of a two kilometere long pest-proof excluder fence across the Kotuku peninsula running from the headwaters of the Port Fitzroy estuary, Rarohara Bay – across to the Orama property on Karaka Bay.

Given the difficult topography of the land – this was a signficant engineering achievement.  After organising aerial drops to eradicate all rodents behind this wall Tony worked tirelessly to create a 260 ha pest free wildlife sanctuary – the Glenfern Sanctuary. He and his family and the workers and volunteers who came to Glenfern from all over the world – achieved much success – as demonstrated by the dramatic increase in birdlife – native kaka parrots, native pigeons, black petrels and rare endemic chevron skinks. The significant increase in birdlife because of Tony’s efforts is apparent not just within the Glenfern Sanctuary but right throughout the Fitzroy area, However Tony was a perfectionist – and a fighter – having walled out predators he worked tirelessly to eliminate any incursions from rats swimming to Glenfern from across the estuaries – installing a grid of 1000 monitoring stations.

This is a fight I guess which will have to be carried on until rats are progressively eradicated from the wider area and all of Great Barrier.

Tony was also a fighter when it came to protecting the waters of the Hauraki Gulf from the relentless spread of marine farms. I recall a resource consent hearing at the ARC for a marine farm in his beloved Port Fitzroy in 2002.  As the case unfolded I was interested to observe that it was Tony who was clearly the acknowledged general of the opposition side.  Tony who worked tirelessly through the case, marshalling the evidence of the lawyers and the technical experts.   When he won the case – he went on to the Environment Court and fought and won the battle all over again.

In recent weeks Tony issued a warning by email to recreational boaters that the government had passed under urgency, legislation which would encourage the proliferation of marine farms thoughout the Hauraki Gulf.   In this coming battle the leadership and commitment of Tony Bouzaid will be badly missed.

I last saw Tony at a meeting on Great Barrier on 17 September at Motairehe Marae called by the Great Barrier Charitable Trust and Ngati Rehua to discuss the return of the kokako to the island.  As always he gave quiet, sensible advice based on his own practical experience. 

When I was chairman of the ARC, the highlight of my year was to travel across to Great Barrier and stay at Tony’s bungalow for two or three days to update myself on conservation projects the ARC was supporting at Glenfern, on Motu Kaikoura Island, the Broken Islands – and to meet with DoC to discuss things like the future removal of rats from Rakitu Island.  I prefer to remember Tony from those times, after a hard day’s work at Glenfern, sitting on the verandah of Fitzroy House in the evening sun, with a glass of red wine, overlooking his beloved Port Fitzroy. 

A great kauri has fallen in the forest of Aotea.

We have lost a champion – we have lost a legend.

Once again to Mal and Tanya, Gina, Matt and Joel and all the Bouzaid family please accept our deepest condolences at the loss of this great Aucklander.

For pictures of Tony depicting his full and rich life of achievement: http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=89850&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=6

My last meeting with Tony - Meeting at Motairehe Marae called by Great Barrier Island Charitable Trust and Ngati Rehua to discuss return of kokako. Tony is just behind me to the right.

Tony Bouzaid Awards and Achievements

Yachting

Tamaki Yacht Club X Class Champion 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965

Winner Sanders Cup 1963 and 1966

Interdominion 12ft Skiff Champion 1967

World Half Ton Cup, Poole, England 1977

World Half Ton Cup, Scheveningen, Netherlands 1978

New Zealand Yachtsman of the Year 1979

Business and Design – Marine Industry

New Zealand Industrial Design Council – Designmarks

Membrane Structure Assn of Australia – Design Awards

IFAI International Achievements Awards – Outstanding Achievements Awards

Local Government

Member Great Barrier Island Community Board 1995 – 2007

Chairman Great Barrier Island Community Board 2004 – 2007

2001 ARC Environmental Initiatives Award for restoration, pest eradication, reforestation and education for Glenfern Sanctuary

2005 DOC Conservation Achievement Award in biosecurity protection and restoration for Glenfern Sanctuary

Nearly one year after the dissolution of the Auckland Regional Council, the  legacy progamme of the ARC is still delivering projects.  The latest was the opening of the Tawharanui Marine Reserve by the Minister of Conservation on Sunday 28 August.

A formal Powhiri hosted by tangata whenua Ngati Manuhiri was followed by the unveiling of a bronze plaque by the Minister in Anchor Bay.

The project was something I had advocated for many years (see also http://www.mikelee.co.nz/2010/09/arc-parks-double-whammy-new-coastal-regional-park-and-at-last-new-marine-reserve-at-tawharanui/

Here are my speech notes.

“Formal Mihi. Thanks for welcoming me back to Tawharanui Regional Park.  There is an old Chinese saying ‘ a tiger may roam 10,000 miles but he will always return home.’

So its great to be back on a regional park and see all the parks rangers.  You know since the advent of the new Auckland Council whenever I meet up with former ARC staff members I always have the uncanny feeling that we have died and are now living in an afterworld. And in some ways that is true.  The Auckland Regional Council which was so important to all of us has passed on into history.  It reminds us that our political institutions, indeed our lives are ephemeral and fleeting.  What is important is the legacy we leave behind us. 

Tawharanui - the new marine reserve covers 400 ha along the northern side of the peninsula (at right)

The new Marine Reserve we celebrate today has been a long time coming.  I first proposed the idea in 1994.  Mindful of the call by Dr Bill Ballantyne, that great pioneer in marine conservation who along with that other pioneer Dr Roger Grace is here today, for 10% of the New Zealand coastal marine area to be protected in fully protected marine reserves, I naively thought that it would be relatively simple to upgrade the already existing Tawharanui marine protected area (’marine park’) to a fully fledged marine reserve under the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

The original Tawharanui ‘marine park’ was first established by the ARA in 1981 as a ‘no-take’ area by creative use of sections of the former Harbours Act and the Fisheries regulations.  The fact that it wasn’t a Marine Reserve has over the years created some confusion in the minds of some members of the public – as has the difference between a ‘marine park’ and a ‘marine reserve’ – and back in 1994 I was mindful of steps to progress the creation of a Hauraki Gulf Marine Park which was likely to cause even more confusion. 

But progress was difficult and painfully slow for reasons I won’t go into here.  In the end it has taken 17 years to achieve.  But it has been well worth the wait and indeed because of its protected status since 1981 marine life within the new reserve has had a flying start and is already abundant and diverse. 

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson unveils bronze plaque for the new Marine Reserve

Uniquely Tawharanui Marine Reserve covering 400 ha adjoins the northern coast of Tawharanui Regional Park (587ha) which contains the already successful Tawharanui Open Sanctuary –  the two bound together by a picture post card surf beach.

Thank you Minister. Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson and Mike Lee shake on it.

Finally I again want to acknowledge the Minister Hon Kate Wilkinson because it was her decision, a courageous decision, taken in the face of some entrenched opposition that ensured that this Tawharanui marine reserve will become the Hauraki Gulf’s 6^th marine reserve and New Zealand’ 34^th marine reserve.

Tawharanui Marine Reserve - protected in perpetuity. (photography Auckland Council/DoC)

 The eradication of pests from Rangitoto and Motutapu which took place in June and July 2009 took place with very little acknowledgement in the news media. 

I had long been an advocate for the removal of rats and other pests from Rangitoto and Motutapu islands.  Even before I came into politics. In fact in my first election campaign ‘newspaper’ which came out in December 1991, as part of the by-election for the old ARC seat of Auckland Central,  I called upon the ARC to: –  ‘work with the department of Conservation and the World Wildlife Fund to carry out a reforestation programme on Motutapu Island.  Furthermore the current programme to eliminate possums and wallabies on Rangitoto and Motutapu should be followed up with a programme to eradicate all exotic pests, cats, rats and stoats.  …The result would be a combined Rangitoto/Motutapu 4000 ha wildlife sanctuary.  The people of Auckland and our visitors would have the opportunity to see rare and endangered native bird species thriving in a natural habitat only minutes from down-town Auckland’.

I kept banging on about this ever since – to anyone who would listen.  I even had it inserted into just about every Alliance and City Vision – indeed ‘Regional People’ -local body election policy after that – and lobbied every Conservation Minister up to Chris Carter – in fact I even had a couple of meetings with Hon Steve Chadwick on this subject.  Anyway it was Chris Carter who picked up the ball and ran with it.  I was with them in June 2006 he and the Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the government’s intention to remove all pests from Rangitoto and Motutapu.

Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands - where rare native birds Takahe and Tieke have been released into the newly pest-free island sanctuary

  Chris had hoped to get the job done in 2008 but for a number of reasons DoC had to postpone the operation one year.  Chris and I were both concerned when the postponement of the operation was announced because it was just after Chris had been ‘reshuffled’ out of the Conservation portfolio.  I had a couple of meetings with new Minister Steve Chadwick who secured commitments from DoC Director-General Al Morrison and went to some lengths to assure me the operation would go ahead in 2009.  And so it did.  And it was worth the wait because the DoC operations team led by Richard Griffiths made a brilliant job of it. The aerial drops (there were three) that began in June and ended in early August were remarkably successful.  DoC managed to eradicate ship rats, Norway rats, mice and kiore – as well as cats, stoats and rabbits.  Hedgehogs were removed some months later.

Two years later on 27th August this year the pest free status was celebrated with the release of saddlebacks onto Motutapu and Rangitoto and takahe onto Motutapu – and I was invited along to represent the Mayor and Auckland Council.

I was asked to say a few words after the release and here are my speech notes.

First of all I bringing the greetings of the Mayor I acknowledged the tangata whenua and the Minister of Conservation Hon Kate Wilkinson. 

“The Minister of Conservation which is a fairly unique portfolio in government because it is a role seen to be very much above party politics.  The Minister of Conservation is also the Minister of conservationists. I also wish to acknowledge the Motutapu Restoration Trust and all its previous chairs Jim Holdaway, Rob Fenwick and Chris Fletcher and all the volunteers who have worked so hard to plant nearly half a million trees on Motutapu.   I want  to acknowledge Jim Holdaway who has not been well and can’t be here today but Jim Holdaway has done so much for conservation in Auckland and must be considered the Father of Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. In regard to Rob I remember vividly the rather stormy Saturday in June 1993 when the planting programme on Motutapu was kicked off and we did our planting side-by side – I was astonished to realise that was 18 years ago.

Christine is overseas but I want to acknowledge her leadership and the group of redoubtable woman who have worked so closely with her – Mary Flaws, Bridget Winstone and Belinda Vernon.

I also wish to acknowledge the Department of Conservation Auckland Conservancy especially for the remarkably successful eradication operation on Motutapu and Rangitoto which it completed in 2009.  Conservator Sean Goddard, Richard Griffiths and Brett Butland organised a meticulous operation and achieved the eradication of seven different mammalian pests in one action.  This is a world-first achievement in conservation management.

The idea of a pest-free Rangitoto-Motutapu has been a personal campaign for me for over 20 years.  The first person to suggest the concept was Professor John Craig who first raised it with me back up at the university in late 1989.  The Minister who took up the concept and made it happen was Chris Carter and I recall being here on this very spot with Chris and the then Prime Minister Helen Clark in June 2006 when the government announced its intention to remove all pests from both islands to create an open sanctuary.  As the then Chairman of the ARC it was deeply satisfying to be able to pledge the support and commitment of the ARC to this cause.

Rangitoto Island at 2321ha and Motutapu at 1561ha together comprises 3881 ha.  This is significantly bigger than our arguably most important island sanctuary Hauturu (Little Barrier) at 3083ha, is nearly double the size of our other major island sanctuary Kapiti and is nearly 20 times the size of Tiritiri Matangi. And these islands only a mere 5 nautical miles from downtown Auckland. 

Takahe or Notornis, (Porphyrio mantelli hochstetteri) once considered extinct - now living within sight of the high rise buildings of downtown Auckland (photo Tim Lovegrove).

The benefits of a wildlife sanctuary on Rangitoto and Motutapu are potentially enormous.

• There are the intrinsic benefits of increasing native biodiversity.
• There are the benefits of scientific research in a unique environment of two co-joined islands – one at least 20 millions years old geologically – and one a mere 600 years old.
• There are benefits for education – the handiness of the islands – so close to Auckland will make it much more convenient and affordable for a much wider range of schools – including low decile schools to come here – so that children can come and experience at first hand New Zealand native birds – wildlife species they are most unlikely to see or hear in their normal daily lives.
• Then there are the economic benefits – a wildlife sanctuary – a mere 5 nautical miles from the downtown ferry terminal could bring to our tourism industry.
• Finally the more intangible but none-the-less real enhancement to Aucklanders’ quality of life that would come with our most loved iconic volcanic island literally coming to life with a huge increase in native birds, lizards and invertebrates.

 Already native birds are colonising both islands spontaneously.  Bellbirds, including some of the birds the ARC released onto Motuihe last year, are now heard and seen regularly as well as kakariki or red-fronted parakeets – again probably from Motuihe where they were released in 2008.

It seems looking back over the years and the long battle to get here it seems quite miraculous that today we have finally got to the stage where we have released rare native birds – the saddleback and the takahe onto these islands. 

Just to think the takahe was so rare that for nearly a 100 years it was believed to be extinct – and belonged more in the realm of mythology – until it was rediscovered in a remote valley in Fiordland in 1948.  Similarly the saddleback by 1964 was restricted to one critically endangered population on Hen Island.

And now these birds are here on these newly created pest-free islands – within eyesight of the office towers of the Auckland CBD.  When it comes to conservation in New Zealand – truly we live in an age of dreams and miracles.

Half the benefit of a Winter’s holiday is the good it does you just anticipating it.  My wife Jenny and I were lucky to get away for a couple of weeks in August to the Cook Islands –  but thinking  about it during the dark and rainy weeks before really lifted our the morale.  We stayed just a few days in Rarotonga and spent most of the time in Aitutaki.  Interestingly I hadn’t been to Aitutaki since August 1973 – which is now really way back in history.

Aitutaki - satellite view.

Aitutaki is an atoll island, one of 15 islands in the Cook group.  It has a volcanic main island fringed by a coral reef – enclosing the islands and an extensive lagoon.  The main island is 1680 ha and together with the other motu the total land area comprises 1805 ha  The lagoon itself covers approximately 50,000 ha.

When I last visited the island I was acting purser on the government Islands trader Moana Roa.   I was just 24 Moana Roa was my first ship and the start of nearly 20 years at sea as a radio officer – mainly working for the British Hong Kong company Jardines,  But that’s another story.

During our holiday the weather in the Cooks was great – and it was wonderful catching up with old friends Helen Browne (Te Koumu Mataiapo) now in her mid-80s and her family especially daughter Helen (Bamboo) on a flying visit from Wellington, son Ken and family and Lydia Framhein.

Then we were off to AItutaki.  Physically the place seemed very much the same as I last saw it but of course there were no resorts or hotels when I was last there.

But despite the new resorts (some of them quite luxurious) the place seemed very peaceful and quiet. This probably has a bit to do with the population being significantly lower than in the early 70s.   This is a phenomenon brought home when one leafs through the Cook Islands phone book.  Most of the population of the outer islands would appear to be only about a quarter of what it was back in the 70s.

One vivid memory of Aitutaki in those times even though there were no public bars or accommodation was that one could be served a cold beer at the local grocer store.   That would have been unthinkable in New Zealand in those times – and I suppose still is.

There were a few people I asked after that I had come to know quite well back in the Moana Roa times but found that sadly they had all passed away.  “Boozers” said one lady (of clearly strong religious beliefs) on the side of the road at Vaipae village, “what do you expect?”  She was probably right when I think about it – then again we were all boozers back then – it was an accepted and expected part of maritime tradition.  But it wasn’t just seafarers and people associated with them.  I think the World War ll generation that dominated the ‘pub culture’ when I was young never really stopped celebrating the end of the war.  They just kept on going.

One of the highlights of our stay in Aitutaki was when Jenny and I hired bicycles and cycled around the whole island.   Starting from the village of Amuri we went anti-clockwise and if took us  two and a half hours.  It was a good opportunity for me to do a bit of bird watching – especially at the more remote southern end of the island.  Aitutaki is fortunate not to be infested with destructive ship rats – the only rat on Aitutaki being the kiore or Pacific rat.  That is most likely why the island is home to the multiple-named  Blue Lorikeet Vini peruviana. This pretty little dark blue and white parrot is known to Aitutaki people as Kura Mo’o, and in English ‘Tahiti Lorikeet’.  However in French Polynesia, where the bird originated it is called ‘Lori Nonnette’ (due to its nun’s habit appearance) and in Tahitian and Paumotu, ‘Vini’ or Vini pa tea’.

Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) aka Kura Mo'o, Vini, Nonnette, Tahiti Lorikeet on banana flower.

The Blue Lorikeet’s population centre is on the vast central Pacific atoll of Rangiroa in the Tuamotu archipelago.  The atoll is one of the largest in the world measuring about 70 km east-west and 32km north-south.  Rangiroa is so big that reportedly both Tahiti and Mo’orea could fit inside its lagoon.  There are about 1000 birds on Rangiroa and another 1000 or so on the nearby atoll of Kaukura.  But the largest number of these birds is actually on Aitutaki.

The Blue Lorikeet was believed to have been brought to Aitutaki from French Polynesia as a caged bird in missionary times, probably as a chiefly gift.  The Vini naturalized and has thrived on Aitutaki in an island otherwise fairly depauperate of land birds – where the most visible bird is the Mynah.  According to the Cook Island’s leading biologist Gerald McCormack the Blue Lorikeet on Aitutaki was decimated by Tropical Cyclone Pat which struck the island in February 2010 (just before Cyclone Oli I experienced in French Polynesia - see: http://www.mikelee.co.nz/2010/02/french-polynesia-conservation-work/)

An excellent post-hurricane study by biology student Kimberly Jennings of the University of Leeds found that the hurricane impacts had reduced the Blue Lorikett population by half to some 1400 birds with nearly all the juvenile birds wiped out.

http://www/savelories.org/images/blue_lorikeet_survey_2010(sm).pdf

It took me some days to actually sight the Blue Lorikeet because I think I was looking out for something a little bigger – like the kakariki.  These birds are smaller than that – not a lot bigger than a budgerigar actually – and with a rather stubby tail – not the usual long tail that parrots have. This probably accounts for its fluttery flight – rather than the characteristic swift swooping flight of other parrots.

When I finally spotted a pair in the flowers of a Coral Tree I realized I had seen them previously but in the distance.  In the end one flew right past the restaurant where we were having breakfast!

It was good to know that the blue lorikeet has survived yet another hurricane and is increasing in numbers once again.  However given the bird is restricted to only nine islands and with a global population of just between 7200 to 9000 it is obvious how vulnerable to events like hurricanes and ship (black) rat invasions the blue lorikeet is - and how important Aitutaki has become for the bird’s continued survival.

Birds spotted on Aitutaki.

Black Noddy (Anous minutus)

White tern (Gygis Blanche)

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

Grey Duck (aka Pacific Black Duck) (Anas supercilliosa) (12) – this sighting is noteworthy as Grey Duck were reported as rare on Aitutaki due to shooting.

Reef Heron (blue and white phases) (Egretta sacra)

Long-Tailed Cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis)

And just for completeness… Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

and Red Jungle Fowl or Moa (Gallus gallus).

And of course Kuramo’o  (Blue Lorikeet)  Vini peruviana – several pairs.

I was rather disappointed at the limited numbers and varieties of seabirds I sighted– compared to for instance what we saw on the similar island of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia last year.  I am not sure why this is.

In terms of lizards, the in-house gecko (literally) where we stayed was the Asian House Gecko.  This is a newcomer to Aitutaki only discovered by Brian Gill of Auckland Museum in late 1995.  Also present on Aitutaki are Stump-Toed Geckos, Sad Geckos and Oceanic Geckos – but Ididn’t see any of these - perhaps our place was a bit flash.  As well as four species of gecko there are also 4 species of skinks, one of which played about by the swimming pool, but was a bit quick for me to close to.

Lagoon tour – and an unexpected encounter

At the last minute Jenny and I decided to go on the lagoon tour (if my last visit was 38 years ago, who knows when next we would be here?)

The lagoon in Aututaki is quite big – about 20 km across at its widest point.  Apart from the main volcanic island, the atoll has a number of coral motu (islets) large and small set along the barrier reef – and a couple of motu actually inside the lagoon which turned out to be of volcanic origin,

We boarded the big catamaran – our first port of call was the once famous Motu Akaiami where the Teal (Air NZ) flying boats used to land in the old Coral Route days of the 1950s and early 60s.  Walking up from the beach through a grove of trees Jenny began chatting with a man she assumed was another passenger. My ears pricked up when the man (with slight English accent) explained he had lived in the Cooks some 40 years.   I said to him – ‘So that means you would remember people like John Herman” (John half German and half Maori was something of a patriarch and a leading personality on the island in those days) – to which he replied, “Yes I knew John very well and I took over his store after he passed away’.

Hullo! I thought.  Could it be I know this man?  I then asked him rather abruptly ‘What’s your name?’ to which he replied ‘Des Clarke’.  I removed my sunglasses , took off my cap and thrusting out my hand, said to him, ‘ Good God! Des Clarke!  – I’m Mike Lee – I last saw you 38 years ago’.   We were both amazed.

Chance encounter - Mike Lee meets Des Clarke after 38 years

Mike and Des talk about old times on Motu Akaiami

When I was 20 in 1969 I worked in the head office of the Maori and Island Affairs department in Wellington in the same office as Des Clarke – both of us square pegs in round holes and both bored out of our brains.   Des was a couple of years older than me and regaled us all with tales of the Cook Islands where he had done some relieving work in the High Commission.   I guess I was the one in the office who listened the most intently and its fair to say that he certainly had an influence on my life.  Partially inspired by Des, three years later I managed to land a job on the Government Island Trader Moana Roa which carried passengers and freight to the Cook Islands and other ‘island territories.’

In fact I was on the Moana Roa voyage which brought Des and his Cook Islands’ wife Tuta’i back to the Cooks to live permanently.  That was in July 1973 and it was the last time I saw them.   It was odd meeting someone I hadn’t seen since we were both in our 20′s – near we were well into our 60′s.  The best part of a lifetime has since passed.  In the hurried conversation on the beach before our tour boat departed I learned that Tuta’i whom I remembered as a rather shy young shop assistant had with the passing of the years and passing away of more senior members of her family had risen to  the rank of Ariki of her tribe on Aitutaki and the major landowner of Motu Akaiami.  Here on this pretty little motu Des and Tuta’i run a low-key tourist resort called ‘Gina’s Place’ (see www.ginasaitutaki.com/)

Des and Tutai Clarke arrive in Rarotonga July 1973 - in the background MV 'Moana Roa'

Mike on Moana Roa off Rarotonga July 1973 (we all looked younger 38 years ago!)

We visited a few of the other motu and snorkeled in the lagoon – which was a wonderful experience.

I wasmost  impressed with Motu Rakau which is dominated by luxuriant vegetation and as I noted from the rock formations is of volcanic rather than coral origin.  Motu Rakau is alive with white terns and skinks. Almost certainly the island is rat free.  I hope the TV ‘reality show’ ‘castaway’ people who use it – keep it rat free.

That wasn’t the last unexpected encounter I had in the Cooks.  The next day we flew out of Aitutaki and returned to Rarotonga.  When we were checking into the Edgewater Hotel on Rarotonga I turned around and standing next to me was Sandra Coney!  I was so surprised I let out a stifled shout  – and everyone turned to look.  It was great to see Sandra and Peter Hosking who are regular visitors to Rarotonga and jolly good company.  All in all a memorable holiday.