When Hawke's Bay man Mario Ropitini takes his first steps in one of the most historic and largest military parades in the world this Thursday his thoughts will be with his iwi, and of a great-great uncle.
As Army Warrant Officer Class One, and one of 86 New Zealand Defence Force Personnel set to march through the Champs-Elysees in the centre of Paris during the French Bastille Day Military Parade, he will part of a remembrance of New Zealand units which served during World War I - with the colours and flags of those units being paraded together outside of New Zealand for the first time.
Like many other defence force personnel in the marching contingent, he has a personal connection to France. The connection was forged by the Ngati Kahungunu iwi on his father's side, which has links to the Smith whanau.
"My great-great uncle Private Joseph Smith served in the 2nd Maori Pioneer Battalion in Egypt and on the Western Front," Warrant Officer Ropitini said.
"When we march a lot of us will be thinking of our ancestors and the sacrifice they made on French soil."