K?hui St David’s Church in Auckland, 70 Khyber Pass Road
Grafton, is to honour the 28th M?ori Battalion.

An invitation to attend a music and remembrance event on 24 April 2024

Wh?nau and friends across the motu are invited to celebrate and honour the 28th M?ori Battalion at a special event at 6pm on 24 April (Anzac Eve). It will be an evening of inspiring music, moving images and warm hospitality in the company of exceptional guests and a historic event to remember the M?ori Battalion.
As Lieutenant-General Lord Freyberg, VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO wrote “No infantry battalion had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting, or, alas, had such heavy casualties as the Maori Battalion.”

The invitation comes from K?hui St David’s Director Paul Baragwanath, and the Friends of St David’s Trust K?hui Rangi P?p?’. Paul reached out to kaumatua and representatives of the 28th M?ori Battalion and Te Mata Law to bring this special event together. It was Sir Bom Gillies KNZM, who served with B Company, 28th Battalion in World War II, who gave his blessings for the event and for a dedicated bronze plaque to be installed in the Great Hall.

The plaque will be positioned at the foot of the great leadlight and stained-glass window that depicts Christ amongst tangata whenua, in the eastern wall of the Great Hall (main body of the church) of K?hui St David’s.

“This plaque will inspire new generations who come to K?hui St David’s for music, community and remembrance,” says Paul Baragwanath.

David Stone, Principal and Founding Partner of Te Mata Law, who led the campaign to distribute medals to all wh?nau of the 28th M?ori Battalion says “This historic, remembrance event is for everyone. That includes all wh?nau of the 28th M?ori Battalion. St David’s was built as a World War I Soldiers’ Memorial Church. It is now home to K?hui St David’s centre for music, which will see the building continue as a living memorial for our tamariki in perpetuity. It’s a meaningful place to honour the legacy of the 28th M?ori battalion.”

St David’s foundation stone was laid on Anzac Day in 1927, and shortly after was dedicated as The Soldiers’ Memorial Church. It is home to the Royal New Zealand Engineers, and the 29th and 30th Infantry Battalions are also honoured. In 2023, Chief of Defence Air Marshal Short sent Deputy Chief of Army Brigadier King to unveil the Lamp of Remembrance, which is now illuminated daily to honour all members, current and retired, of the Armed Services.

Many are anticipated to attend the Anzac Eve 2024 event at K?hui St David’s. They will experience the magnificent acoustics of your newest centre for music – K?hui St David’s, with performances by musicians Horomona Horo (taonga p?oro), David Harvey (bagpipes), Ed Waaka (piano and vocal), Helen Lukman-Fox (pipe organ) and The Off Broadway Big Band.

Paul Baragwanath says, “With the help of New Zealanders nationwide, we saved this Category A Historic Heritage Place from demolition, and in 2021 secured its future as a living memorial and a symbol of hope and peace, where everyone feels at home, in their newest centre dedicated to music, community and remembrance”

ANZAC AT K?HUI ST DAVID’S
Anzac Eve 2024 – WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Wednesday 24 April @6pm
K?hui St David’s
70 Khyber Pass Road
Grafton, Auckland

Ng? mihi nui | Kind regards,
Paul Baragwanath
Director
Friends of St David’s Trust