Nick Smith - Nelson MP, Minister National Government

ANZAC Service 2011

25 April 2011

Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery, Japan

Hon Dr Nick Smith

Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Issues

E nga mana - Respected people

Nga iwi o te Ao - People of the world

Tena koutou katoa - Greetings to you all

I’m honoured to be here today at the Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery to commemorate the 96th anniversary of Anzac Day

I particularly wish to recognise Australian Ambassador Murray McLean and our own Ambassador Ian Kennedy, fellow kiwis, our Japanese hosts, and our Commonwealth and US friends.

Here lie 1,500 graves of Australian and Kiwi soldiers, and troops from the United Kingdom, Canada and Indian Forces who died in Japan as prisoners of war during World War Two.

Alongside those graves stands the Yokohama Cremation Memorial, a shrine housing an urn containing the ashes of a further 335 British Commonwealth, American and Dutch prisoners of war

The Post-War plot contains an additional 156 graves of those British, Indian, Australian and New Zealand military personnel and associated civilian staff who served with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan 1945-1952. 

A small number of our Korean War casualties - five New Zealand soldiers and ten Australian soldiers and aircrew are also buried in the Post-War Plot

This cemetery and this gathering honours their memory.

It’s also fitting to be in Japan on this day to convey our sorrow - for New Zealand shares Japan’s heartache and grief over the earthquake and tsunami that has caused devastation and caused so much loss of life in the Kanto-Tohoku region. That both our countries have this year suffered from huge earthquakes and both our governments are grappling with the challenges of recovery and reconstruction brings us closer together.

I must also acknowledge the strong bonds New Zealand and Japan have with Australia, and the recent visits of Prime Minister Gillard to share in our grief and recovery effects.

Bonds are often strengthened in adversity.  And so it was in Gallipoli, where the strong bonds of friendship and loyalty between Australia and New Zealand were forged.  After the war, a bond was also formed with the new Republic of Turkey which acted so honourably in the treatment of our dead - our lost fathers, brothers and sons.

Like other Anzac ceremonies being held around the world, we are also here today to honour our dead from other fields of war. 

Those who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and Borneo.  And we also pay tribute to the Anzacs that are serving their country today - in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands, the Sinai, Sudan and Iraq.  

On Saturday I visited the Peace Park in Horishima. It was a moving experience. We should be so thankful that in the sixty six years since, the world has not had to endure such destruction. We must be thankful for those brave men whose lives we remember today for laying the foundations for lasting peace. Let us never glorify war, and the destruction that accompanies it, but let us respectfully remember those who died for their country

We will remember them.