In a room full of dignitaries, guest speakers, leaders, men, women and children paying their respects to war heroes, it was a speech from a Rotorua Boys’ High School teen that got the room talking. Kelly Makiha reports. 

When our men were at war, everyone was behind the “boys overseas” fighting for the greater good. 

But today, divisiveness, being correct and proving a point is the new aim of the game. 

ANZAC Day civic service at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre. Photo / Andrew Warner 

That was the strong message delivered by 17-year-old Rotorua Boys’ High School head boy Jared Lasike at today’s Anzac Day Rotorua Civic Memorial Service at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. 

Lasike was one of several guest speakers at today’s service which followed the Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League Dawn Service at Ōhinemutu and the Anzac Day Parade from Te Arawa War Memorial to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. 

Reverend Tom Poata and Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell officiated the service, which also included speeches from British Deputy High Commissioner to New Zealand John Pearson and Western Heights High School head girl Merenia Tapsell. 

British Deputy High Commissioner John Pearson and Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell at the Anzac Day march. Photo / Andrew Warner 

Lasike spoke about his great grandfathers’ contributions at war and said their comradeship brought the country together like never before. 

“Everyone was united and supported the boys overseas and the divisions were reserved for the battlefields.” 

He said in recent memory he struggled to think of a time when NZ came together so strongly. 

“Divisiveness seems to be the new aim of the game. Race, political beliefs and religion are all motivators in separating our people. People are more concerned with being correct and proving a point... This is where we can learn more from our ancestors.” 

The official memorial service at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. Photo / Andrew Warner 

He said despite coming from all corners of the country, the Anzac soldiers were not divided. 

“They stood as brothers to fight for us. They could see the purpose greater than themselves and put aside their petty arbitrary differences. It makes me wonder what could be accomplished if we could do the same?” 

He ended his speech by quoting Sir Edmund Hillary: “If we can overcome ourselves then we can climb the loftiest of mountains”. 

Western Heights High School head girl Merenia Tapsell gives a moving speech at the Anzac Day memorial service at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre in Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner 

Merenia Tapsell, the younger sister of Tania Tapsell, gave a moving speech about her great-grandfather Winiata Tapsell’s efforts during the Le Quesnoy battle. He was among the soldiers who built a ladder to climb a great wall into the German-held town to free the locals. 

She said he showed by example that no matter what the situation, you could overcome the circumstances. 

“You too can find a way up, over and through the challenges in life we are facing. This is how I will continue to keep his memory alive.” 

Why is Anzac Day significant? 

Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. 

In 1915, Australian and NZ soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany. 

The NZ Expeditionary Force left in October 1914, combined with their Australian counterparts to form the Anzacs. Along with some British units, they mounted an amphibious expedition. 

The Anzac Day Rotorua Civic Memorial Service at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre was attended by hundreds of people. Photo / Andrew Warner 

The Australian and NZ forces landed on Gallipoli on April 25, meeting fierce resistance. The assault ended some eight months later and became known as a saga of errors and horrors. 

The infantry were not trained properly to land from the sea, were inadequately supplied with artillery shells, had no grenades, were without engineers or material for the construction of piers, were never fully supplied with other materials and never reinforced quickly enough or in sufficient numbers. 

The cost to NZ was 2721 dead and 4725 injured (some of whom subsequently died) – a staggering 88 per cent casualty rate. 

NZ and Australia’s reaction was to establish Anzac Day as an annual day of commemoration. 

Ode of Remembrance 

They shall grow not old, 

as we that are left grow old; 

Age shall not weary them, 

nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun 

and in the morning 

We will remember them. 

Response: 

We will remember them 

Lest we forget 

This story was originally published on the Herald, here