13 MAY 2003

Tomb of the Unknown Warrior Groundbreaking and Site Blessing Ceremony

	Senior Te Ati Awa Kaumatua Sam Jackson places stones of spiritual significance at the Tomb site.

A dawn ceremony took place today in Wellington to mark the beginning of construction work on the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. The Tomb will be located in front of the NationalWar Memorial. The ceremony was attended by representatives from key groups involved with the project, including Minister of Defence, the Hon Mark Burton, representing the Crown, the National President and District Presidents of the Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association, and Maori Tribal representatives from major tribes around the country.

At the ceremony, senior Te Ati Awa Kaumatua Sam Jackson placed three stones of spiritual significance at the Tomb site. The stones hold the 'mauri' or spiritual life force of the people of Te Ati Awa (tangata whenua), giving 'mana' or status to the land where the tomb is being built. It is intended that the stones be buried in the Tomb with the Unknown Warrior.

Principal Defence Chaplain Julian Wagg blesses the site.

The Principal Defence Chaplain, Chaplain Julian Wagg, blessed the Tomb site.

The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior will honour the 27,000 New Zealanders who are buried in foreign lands as a result of service overseas. As the soldier's name, rank, regiment, race, religion and other details are unknown, he will represent all those lost to their families through war.

David Cox, National President of the RNZRSA, said "The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior will provide a focal point for both personal and public commemoration of the lives lost, and of the grief suffered by families, local communities and the country as a whole."

A New Zealand delegation will travel to France for a ceremony on 2 November to begin the process of repatriating the Unknown Warrior. On return, the Unknown Warrior will lie in State at Parliament to enable New Zealanders to pay their respects. A State funeral will be held on 11 November at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul. It will be followed by a funeral procession to the National War Memorial where an interment ceremony will take place.

David Cox, RNZRSA National President, gives his address. In the background (from right) Hon Mark Burton, Minister of Defence, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, Chief of Defence Force, and Col (Ret) Andrew Renton-Green, Chairman of the National War Memorial Advisory Council and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior Co-ordinating Committee.

Full Address by RNZRSA National President David Cox:

On the New Zealand war memorials at Gallipoli and the Western Front is carved that now famous inscription: "FROM THE UTTERMOST ENDS OF THE EARTH". And, that phrase explicitly describes from whence thousands of young New Zealanders have answered the call-to-arms many times during the past century.

Nearly thirty thousand died for their country and almost twenty-seven thousand five hundred of them are buried in foreign fields far away from kith and kin.

Today, we mark the beginning of a journey to bring home one of them—he that will represent them all—the Unknown Warrior.

The RSA is proud to represent all veterans from all conflicts at this unique occasion. The RSA first proposed that New Zealand establish its own Tomb of the Unknown Warrior some 60 years ago. And now, finally, our country is to bring home the mortal remains of one anonymous New Zealander who died on the Western Front during the Great War of 1914-18. He will symbolise the sacrifices of all New Zealanders who have fought for the restoration and preservation of peace: past, present, and future.

The RSA is the guardian of Remembrance in New Zealand: one voice speaking for all veterans, for all who died, and for all families who suffered the loss of loved ones. It is a sacred duty undertaken with both pride and humility; a duty that is owed to all that have served their country in times of war.

This is a day on which the spirits of all veterans—the living and the dead—join in thanksgiving at this ground-breaking ceremony, a precursor to the construction of a magnificent Tomb that will honour and be a lasting tribute to their sacrifice.

In this sacred soil will lie the remains of a lone New Zealander, Known unto God.

We will know not who he is—he is Everyman who laid down his life for New Zealand and New Zealanders. We will remember him—and them—for ever.

The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior will provide a focal point for both personal and public commemoration of the lives lost, and of the grief suffered by families, local communities and the country as a whole.

On behalf of New Zealand's veteran community, I thank and congratulate all who have dedicated themselves to ensuring that this most praiseworthy endeavour will come to a successful completion with the interment of our own Unknown Warrior this coming Armistice Day.

See related media release:

Veterans disappointed by Unknown Warrior injunction application (18 May 2003)