Men of the 24th – you make me proud to be a New Zealander.”
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...
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Fairy tale Wedding – tribute to my stepson Joe and new daughter-in-law Ivy
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...
Tribute to Jim Holdaway – last of the ‘Greatest Generation’
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...
Address to Graduation Dinner – NZ Maritime School
As the famous poet and essayist of the 18th century Dr Johnson once wrote: ‘Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or for not having been at sea.”
Remembrance Day speech at St Mathews in the City
Last Friday we commemorated the 93rd 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...
Opening NZ Bus’ brand new Onehunga depot – Saturday 29th October – (speech notes)
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...
Tony Bouzaid 1940 – 2011- a tribute
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...
a long time coming – after 17 years of battling Tawharanui Marine Reserve formally opened.
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...
The age of dreams and miracles for conservation – Takahe and Tieke released onto pest-free Rangitoto-Motutapu islands
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...
Return to Aitutaki – Looking for the Blue Lorikeet and a chance reunion at Motu Akaiami
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...