'Poppy Places' Trust Remembrance Project gains momentum

NZ Poppy Places Trust project manager Joe Bolton (far right) celebrates another 'street becomng a Poppy Place Photo / File

After World War I, communities around New Zealand began assigning place names and marking specific events linked to the war.

Now the New Zealand Poppy Places Trust is encouraging local communities to push their council to agree to mark street signposts and other places of significance with a poppy.

The Trust was established in 2014 by a group of former servicemen to promote and oversee this nationwide project.

Trustee and project manager Joe Bolton said the idea was to create a lasting legacy for future generations so they would never forget the sacrifices made by those who died in
WWI and other overseas military conflicts.

Bolton said an estimated 3000 existing streets across the country had military connections and so far there were 136 streets which were now Poppy Places.

That included a poppy added to the Freyberg St sign in Masterton in 2016, and Upper Hutt City last year named a new street in Trentham as Passchendaele Grove.

The background story to each poppy was also being recorded on the trust's website to ensure these stories were not lost over time, he said.

"Many of our street names and places are directly related to people and events from overseas military service, but often that's only known by a decreasing number of people."

"The Places of Remembrance Project is about ensuring we all never forget. It would help to keep our military heritage alive and also encourage more civic pride, " Bolton said.

Local residents were urged to contact their council to make the request to either replace or modify existing street signs to add a red poppy, using a process outlined on the trust's website poppyplaces.nz.

People with smartphones can scan the barcode alongside each poppy to bring up information about the significance of the poppy on the website.

Bolton said the Poppy Places Remembrance Project had the backing of the NZ RSA and NZ Transport Agency which had changed its roading regulations to enable the addition.

Mount Maunganui RSA support manager and chairman of Tauranga WW100 committee said he believed the project was a "great idea".

"These poppies will serve as a daily reminder to residents and visitors about those who sacrificed their lives and others who also fought for the freedoms we enjoy today."

Moss said that was why Mount RSA had renamed its eatery the Munro Restaurant and Cafe to commemorate the passing of local war hero Les Munro.

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless agreed it was fitting where appropriate to add a poppy to street signs and other monuments as a lasting symbol of remembrance.

Tauranga RSA president Heather Waldron said it was the first she had heard about the project and wanted to know more about it before commenting.

More information about the project is available on poppyplaces.nz.