Peter Dunne
Wellington, April 25, 2017
ANZAC Day stands out as a special day to promote tolerance and understanding in today’s diverse and unsettled world.
ANZAC Day properly commemorated the extreme sacrifices made by New Zealand service men and women at Gallipoli in 1915, and in struggles elsewhere since then to secure the freedom we enjoy today.
Their heroic sacrifices were all made in the belief they were securing a better world for the future – that sense of selfless dedication we call today the ANZAC Spirit.
At a local level, we recall the ultimate sacrifices of personnel from this area, from Trooper Retter in South Africa in 1902, through to Lance Corporal Leon Smith in Afghanistan in 2011.
Broadened Concept
The concept of freedom the original ANZACs fought for had broadened considerably since that disastrous morning at Gallipoli over a hundred years ago.
They were fighting for King and Empire and the freedom to continue their way of life – today’s struggles for freedom, in an ever more uncertain and tense world, are certainly still about upholding values when they are challenged by tyrants, but are also about supporting tolerance, promoting understanding and respecting individual and national diversity.
So, as we honour with gratitude today the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACs and those who have followed them in subsequent conflicts, let us also take the opportunity to respect and repay their commitment to freedom through pursuing and upholding tolerance, dignity and understanding within our country, and through never being afraid to speak out against intolerance and injustice wherever it occurs.
Peter Dunne is Member of Parliament elected from Ohariu Constituency and Leader of United Future Party. The above is a part of his speech today to commemorate ANZAC Day at his Constituency.
