Residents initiate local Anzac service

Long-time Havelock North residents rally in the rain to protest cancellation of the village's Anzac Day service, at the cenotaph in the Havelock North CBD.

A group of Havelock North residents have begun planning its own Anzac service in the village, after their annual service was cancelled in favour of a district-wide commemoration.

The cenotaph service held in Havelock North was canned this year, in favour of a Hastings commemoration to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing in 1915.

The decision was made by the Hastings RSA several months ago, and is supported by Hastings District Council.

Veterans of the Havelock North parade last week rallied in the rain beside the village's cenotaph in support of 77-year-old Margot Harvey who had expressed her displeasure in a letter to the editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

In the Havelock North Community Centre last night, a group of about 30 supporters for a Havelock North service began to make plans for their event, to begin at the cenotaph at 10.30am on Anzac day.

The group was mustered by Havelock North resident and former Hastings City councillor Colin Shanley.

"The intention is to have a full service, and we can - Havelock always turns out," he told the gathering.

"I would think this would be the first time since the cenotaph was erected that there hasn't been a parade," a concerned resident said.

Hastings councillor Wayne Bradshaw, who was present at the meeting, said he supported an independent Havelock North service.

"It's a community standing up for what they feel strongly about. I think it's caught everyone by surprise, that it's actually been taken away this year.

"There was a lot of feeling in that room today, that said it's great to celebrate [the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing], but we would prefer to celebrate within our community."

Captain RNZIR Retd John Sturgess said Anzac Day services in Havelock North would resume next year.

This year's event was a significant "one-off" centennial for which planning began more than two years ago.

"Defence assets and local resources necessary to make Anzac Day memorable are thinly spread and bidding for them commenced two years ago. Many such requests have only been finalised in recent weeks."

Mr Sturgess said "given that situation, the decision to centralise this year's commemoration, to justify the expense involved in infrastructure and support for the occasion ... had to be a sound conclusion, to arrive at.

"This is a once in a hundred year event. The committee has put together a thoughtful, innovative and exciting programme for which we urge your support."

The 5.30am Dawn Parade will have a military theme and the 10am Civic Parade at the Hastings Cenotaph and Civic Square will have a community and youth emphasis, with musical tributes in the morning.