Wrangle over war memorial

Councillors battle over national memorial

AMY JACKMAN
Last updated 11:35 04/10/2012
Iona Pannett
IONA PANNETT: "What would've been better is a peace memorial rather than a war memorial.
john morrison
JOHN MORRISON: "It's about commemorating and paying tribute to all those New Zealanders who sacrificed their lives."

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National War Memorial Park and what it symbolises caused heated debate at the full Wellington City Council meeting last week.

Councillor Iona Pannett said the memorial, in Buckle St, would mark a "black day for Wellington" and that she did not support "glorifying war".

Councillor John Morrison said he took offence to Ms Pannett's comments.

"I had a great-uncle shot at Gallipoli," he said.

"It's nothing to do with glorifying or celebrating war.

"It's about commemorating and paying tribute to all those New Zealanders who sacrificed their lives.

"Anzac Days over the last few years have illustrated that all generations are coming together.

"It's not just about the First World War or the second, it's about New Zealanders in our history who have fought for their country."

What do you think about the National War Memorial Park? Does it glorify war or is it an important tribute? Leave a comment below to join the debate.

This week, Ms Pannett said she agreed it was important to remember those on both sides who had died, but as a pacifist she morally objected to a memorial to war.

"I'm a pacifist. I don't eat meat and don't believe in taking life. That is where the moral question is," she said.

"We are still going off to war.

"There may be a reason we go off to oppose a specific regime, but we are still going and taking life. If it was my child I wouldn't want a bullet through their head.

"What would've been better is a peace memorial rather than a war memorial. Why can't we call it that?

"I wouldn't have objected so strongly if it had been called that."

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