At Aotearoa in New Zealand yesterday, the New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, MP, unveiled a Pacific Pacific War Memorial in the shape of a giant conch shell, named‘Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa – the deep sigh of the Pacific.
.In acknowledgement of the significant involvement of Solomon Islanders in the Second World War, and the ongoing impacts felt and connections both shared, a small ceremony was held on Friday in Honiara, ahead of the unveiling, to convey their voices down to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Invited guests included representatives from Solomon Islands Government, other diplomatic partners, and the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatcher’s Trust including their patron Honourable Peter Kenilorea, MP.
Chief Willie Besi of Barana village and New Zealand High Commissioner Georgina Roberts called out messages across oceans and on the winds on behalf of those assembled on top Hill 27.
Chief Willie Besi, speaking in his own language – Ghari, called out “We pay our sincere honour and respect to all the individuals who lost their lives during the war and to their families. As it is part of our culture and way of life, Solomon Islands acknowledges the sacrifice that those people have shown irrespective of which country they were from, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, United States of America or our Pacific neighbours and we respect them for that.”
“We know innocent lives were taken away from us too,” Chief Willie Besi added, “But we join our hearts together and send our warm comfort out to all our fellow Pacific Island family who are also part of this history that we share together.”
Footnote.
The main focus of New Zealand’s Pacific war effort in World War II was in Solomon Islands, where all three services (army, navy, and air force) saw considerable action. Royal New Zealand Navy ships served alongside American forces and from late 1942 Royal New Zealand Air Force fighter and bomber squadrons flew from Guadalcanal. The following year, Guadalcanal was a staging point for men of the New Zealand Army’s 3rd Division, who occupied Vella Lavella and Mono Island.
Source: Island Sun newspaper.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
