June McIntosh reads messages at the site from which the war memorial pillars were taken. Photo / Simon Baker
Tensions are running high on the West Coast as angry residents demand the return of their war memorial, and Greymouth's mayor is urging people not to take the law into their own hands.
West Coast landowner the Mawhera Incorporation has earned the wrath of the people by removing
the 85-year-old gate pillars, which carry the names of West Coasters who died fighting for their country, from the entrance to a school site it is developing into a shopping mall.
The pillars have been dumped on Mawhera land, 30km south of Greymouth.
Mawhera has refused to speak on the issue, which has prompted Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen to wade into the bitter dispute.
"Although Mawhera chairman Maika Mason has not been in contact, I am sure he is now aware of the controversy," Dr Cullen said yesterday.
"I urge him to get in touch with Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn in order to identify a way through this problem."
Mr Kokshoorn has branded the actions of Mawhera as "arrogant" and an "affront to those who served overseas", and has said he may return the pillars to Greymouth himself if Mawhera continues to ignore the community.
He had been inundated with calls and emails of support from throughout the country, many from Aucklanders offering to give money for a legal fighting fund.
While emotions were running high, Mr Kokshoorn is pleading with residents to stay calm.
"We do not want reprisals in any way. We will go about this in an orderly way."
At the site where the pillars were removed, directly across the street from the Greymouth RSA, bunches of flowers lay at the site yesterday alongside banners and a handwritten card calling Mawhera "cowards".
"You didn't have the guts to do it in daylight. Our brave soldiers rested at night."
Residents stopped frequently at the site of the missing pillars yesterday to express their anger.
Volunteer worker June McIntosh said Mawhera's actions were "absolutely disgusting".
Those who took the pillars away under the cover of darkness were "like rats in the night".
Mary Harris, 89, said it saddened her to see the pillars gone.
"It's not right. But it will be all right as long as they are returned."
