The charter for the newest Royal New Zealand Navy ship has been approved by councillors in New Plymouth, despite claims the traditional wording glorified war.
New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) previously had a charter with the decommissioned HMNZS Endeavour, and has accepted the navy's invitation to be the home port for its newest ship, HMNZS Aotearoa.
The charter will formalise the relationship and confer on HMNZS Aotearoa the Freedom of the District, allowing it to parade here.
In return, it is usual to have navy personnel attend the mayor on official occasions.
But at a full council meeting this week, councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes took exception to the wording “with drums beating, band playing, colours flying, bayonets fixed and swords drawn”, saying there were those in the community whose voices had not been heard.
“If we unpack each of those elements, the ‘drums beating’ were to communicate commands of a commander, which included to kill men, to rape women, and to pillage the land that they were on.
“I just don’t feel comfortable with those words really supporting I guess what I see as glorifying war, and some atrocious things that have happened in our history.”
Councillor Anneka Carlson said she also struggled with the wording.
“Just because it is a tradition, is it a tradition we want to continue?”
The Waitara Community Board also wanted the words removed but most councillors did not have a problem with them.
Councillor Richard Handley said he was from a military family – his great-grandfather rose to the rank of major general in the British Army in World War I.
“I am somewhat offended by the thought that this is honouring war and killing, because, baby, it ain’t.”
Deputy mayor Richard Jordan said it was an honour for the district.
“While I do respect alternative views, I would also ask you to recognise that the reason you can espouse those views is because of what those armed forces did.”
Councillors Gordon Brown and Harry Duynhoven said they should accept the charter for now and the wording could be reconsidered in the future.
Councillor Murray Chong said he might even say he was a little ashamed that there were people around the table who did not want to support the charter.
“We would not be in the position we are today if it was not for our armed forces in the past. I just can't believe there are people that don’t respect that.”
Mayor Neil Holdom said this was about a relationship between the community and the crew of the ship.
“They are an important part of our story.
“I feel honoured that they want to call us their home port.”
When they come and march, “we are going to have a good time”, Holdom said.
“We are going to revel and, sorry councillor Carlson, but animals will be slayed and there will be much feasting.”
Carlson, who is vegan, questioned if that comment was necessary and Holdom said it was as earlier there had been a discussion about kai.
Councillor Dinnie Moeahu said he was not ashamed or offended by Clinton-Gohdes’ concerns because he understood the context but he was ashamed and offended by the reaction when she spoke.
He said there was truth in what she said but he was happy to support the charter.
Moeahu spoke of the captain of the ship speaking in te reo and how strong his sense of pride had been between unifying what could be represented as the Crown and tangata whenua.
“He was so committed in his belief to do what is right.”
HMNZS Aotearoa is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s largest ever ship and was commissioned in July in a ceremony at Devonport.
Built in South Korea, the 173.2-metre long auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel has a core crew of 64, displaces 26,000 tonnes and has a range of 6750 nautical miles.
