King Country
THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2026
King Country News | 1
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APRIL 30, 2026
Anzac: it’s personal By Dan Tasker
Messages of service, community and the Anzac spirit were at the fore as locals paid their respects at services across the district on Saturday. Other services across the district were held in Piopio – where about 250 people turned out Ōtorohanga, Awakino and Kāwhia. A crowd of around 200 people braved the chilly dawn service at Te Kūiti Pā, where visitors were welcomed before a short service led by Isaiah Wallace, which included the Last Post and Reveille, the Anzac dedication, laying of wreaths, karakia and
waiata. Then it was off to King St East, where the Te Kūiti & District Highland Pipe Band led a parade of service personnel from The Lines Company building to the Les Munro Centre for the Ceremony of Remembrance. The service, led by Waitomo district mayor John Robertson, included several speakers, the Ode, the Last Post and Reveille, the Anzac dedication, prayer, hymns and the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia. Guest speaker and former Te Kūiti High School student Sergeant Michelle Paterson spoke to the gathering of around 300 people
about her 14-year army career and how it taught her to value resilience and service. “Standing here this morning back where it all began for me, I feel proud to serve and grateful to come home. Grateful for those who went before us and their sacrifice, and conscious of the responsibility we carry because of their sacrifice,” she said. “It’s no longer just history; it’s personal. It’s about recognising that service begins in places like Te Kūiti, and the values learnt at home are carried wherever we’re called to serve.” With the on-going wars in Iran and Ukraine front of mind for the
Service personnel march in the Anzac parade at the Te Kūiti Ceremony of Remembrance on Saturday.
Photo: Dan Tasker
global community, Sgt Paterson highlighted the importance of the next generation of servicemen and women continuing the Anzac spirit. “As the second world war generation passes, the responsibility to carry forward their commitment falls increasingly on young New Zealanders – those still serving and those yet to step forward. That responsibility means now more than it has for many years. The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable and the values previous
generations defended cannot be taken for granted,” Sergeant Paterson said. “As the day breaks, we remember the past, we honour the present and we commit ourselves to the future.” Te Wharekura o Maniapoto student Pikirangi Rangiwha joined the Te Awamutu Community Cadets Unit four years ago and issued a call to arms for his generation to keep the values of the Anzac spirit alive. “I’ve realised the Anzac spirit
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Te Kūiti & District RSA president Barry Batley, mayor John Robertson and kaumatua Kingi Turner laid wreaths at the cenotaph in Te Kūiti.
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