23 April 2008

Thankyou Kerikeri High School

Cassino railway station; monument to New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in Italy.



4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome

Kay said...

Kerikeri High School’s Ki-o-Rahi players are New Zealand nationalchampions. The game is a fast running, contact sport played on a circular fieldusing a round ball called a ki. Historically Maori ball games werelinked with kite flying, the kites signifying to neighbouring tribesthat games were in progress. The Ki-o-rahi combined team has an invitation to be honoured guests atthe 28th Cervia International Kite Festival in Italy from April 25 toMay 4. Wearing traditional costume, they will perform a daily 40-minutekapa haka with haka, taiaha and poi. They fly out of New Zealand onSunday. They will also demonstrate kite related Maori games and compete withItalian and international groups. In addition they have the task of decorating a New Zealand marquee,promoting the New Zealand way of life, During their trip, the group will have an opportunity to travel to MonteCassino and visit the commemorative cemetery where they will pay theirrespects to fallen soldiers and servicemen.

Kay said...

Previous comment is an extract from an article in The Bay Chronicle | Thursday, 17 April 2008

Kay said...

PS The wreath on the monument at the railway station was placed there in May 2004.

That was a very moving service, the Maori Battalion and other NZers being joined by German veterans and their families. Human empathy lasts longer than political ideology.

Next year there will be more ceremonies to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Cassino.