Passchendaele: ‘The Belgians Have Not Forgotten’ Exhibition
Some 28,000 people visited the exhibition, Passchendaele: ‘The Belgians Have Not Forgotten’, during its tour of New Zealand from March to November 2009. Nearly 10,000 of these visitors viewed the display at the historic Fort Takapuna in North Shore City.
The exhibition was sent to New Zealand from the Passchendaele Memorial Museum in Belgium. It featured photographs, movies, music, information and artefacts from the battles and followed the journey of New Zealand soldiers from Gallipoli through Flanders to Passchendaele.
The exhibition helped to highlight the memories of New Zealanders which live on in Belgium today and the gratitude felt by the Belgian people for our country’s major contribution to their freedom.
In North Shore City, an additional display of 5,000 white crosses was erected outside the fort on the former parade ground, where many soldiers marched before being deployed overseas. The crosses symbolised the New Zealanders who died in Belgium during World War One.
North Shore City extends its thanks to the generosity of the Abilities Group, Max Birt Sawmills, Resene and countless volunteers for helping to make the white crosses project possible.
For more information regarding the exhibition visit www.thebelgianshavenotforgotten.blogspot.com
Closing Dawn Ceremony
On Monday 16 November a dawn ceremony was be held at Fort Takapuna, to prepare the parade ground for removal of the 5,000 white crosses display and to mark the end of the exhibition Passchendaele: 'The Belgians Have Not Forgotten'. Approximately 80 members of the community and dignitaries gathered together for the event.
A ‘tapu-lifting’ was performed by Kaumatua Heta Tobin and children from Vauxhall School released 50 white doves in memory of the fallen. Members of the community who had named a cross in memory of a loved one were able to collect them for safekeeping.
If you have a loved one you would like to remember by collecting a cross, or you named one of the crosses and you would like to keep it, please contact Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz
Passchendaele Commemoration Ceremony
It was the worst military disaster in New Zealand’s history. Within a single day’s battle on 12 October 1917, more than 2700 New Zealanders died, were wounded or declared missing. The number of Kiwi deaths that morning – more than 850 – was greater than the combined toll of the eruption of Mt Tarawera, Hawkes Bay earthquake, Tangiwai rail disaster, sinking of the Wahine and Erebus plane crash.
Ninety-two years later, on Monday 12 October 2009, North Shore City hosted a commemorative ceremony to remember those lost in the Battle of Passchendaele and the rest of the Western Front. The ceremony was held at sunset at Fort Takapuna in Devonport.
Highlights included performances by the Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and the Takapuna Grammar School Girls' Choir, and a display of the Regimental Colour of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion Group. Following this, wreaths were be laid by Mayor of North Shore City, Andrew Williams, His Excellency Patrick Renault, Ambassador of Belgium, invited guests and members of the public.
The commemoration ceremony was held at sunset to reflect the ‘Last Post’ ceremony which takes place every night by the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. The ‘Last Post’ ceremony has been performed daily by Belgian buglers since the First World War to express the gratitude of the Belgian people towards those who died for their freedom and independence.
Passchendaele March Past and Review
A powerful street parade took place on Saturday 10 October, to remember the New Zealand soldiers who fought bravely in the battles of the Western Front during World War One. It was lead by the New Zealand Army, with contingents from the Navy and Air Force also involved, plus Tri-Service Cadets, RSA and members of the public. Music was performed by the Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and Auckland and District Pipe Band.
The parade made its way up Lake Road, from Sanders Avenue in Takapuna, to North Shore City 
Council on The Strand, where the military review was inspected by His Worship the Mayor Andrew Williams. Moving words, about the significance of the Battle of Passchendaele in New Zealand history, were shared by the Mayor, Prime Minister - Rt Hon John Key MP and the Ambassador of Belgium - His Excellency Patrick Renault. To conclude the ceremony, wreaths were laid by dignitaries, RSA and members of the public on the war memorial.
Grand Massed Bands Concert
To mark the opening of The North Shore Heritage Festival and the Passchendaele: ‘The Belgians Have Not Forgotten’ exhibition, North Shore City and The International Military Music Society New Zealand Branch staged a magnificent massed bands commemorative concert on 4 October.
The concert, which was a sell-out, featured Auckland’s four great bands, from RNZ Navy, RNZ Artillery, RNZ Air Force and Auckland and District Pipe Band, together with guest international vocalist Celine Toner.
Exhibition Opening Ceremony
Members of the public and dignitaries attended an official opening ceremony outside Fort Takapuna at 11am on Sunday 4 October. His Worship the Mayor of North Shore City, Andrew Williams, announced the exhibition officially open.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were First Alderman of Zonnebeke Council, Franky Byron; Minister of Defence, Hon Dr Wayne Mapp; Lieutenant Colonel Chris Powell and Honorary Consul of Belgium, Laetitia Petersen. Master of Ceremonies was Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mullane.
Field of Remembrance Ceremony
A group of approximately 100 people from the community of Devonport attended a Field of Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Takapuna on Wednesday 30 September 2009. The ceremony was held in order to bless the ground where the 5,000 white crosses were erected, as a memorial for the New Zealanders who died in Belgium during WWI.
Local Kaumatua, Heta Tobin, of Ngati Whatua iwi blessed the ground, and moving words were shared by Lieut. Col. Chris Mullane and Deputy Mayor of North Shore City, Julia Parfitt.