Defence Force to Celebrate Art Deco!
Defence Force to Celebrate Art Deco!
The Navy’s patrol vessel HMNZS HAWEA, three Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) aircraft, the Napier-based Army Reserve unit and the Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy, are coming together to help Napier celebrate its Art Deco heritage 19-23 February.
The Royal New Zealand Navy continues its long tradition of participation in Art Deco activities, this year sending a warship with a local Napier man in command.
Other units of our Defence Force have also taken part in Art Deco since its inception, in recognition of the armed forces’ role in assisting the people of Hawkes Bay after the devastating 1931 earthquake.
This year:
• The Navy
Band will play a number of concerts and march in the street
parade.
•
• HMNZS HAWEA’s company will march in
Saturday’s parade.
•
• The RNZAF aircraft will
be on display at Napier airport, and fly demonstrations
during the Art Deco weekend.
•
• The Air
Force’s new A109 helicopter will be on static display at
the airport.
•
• ‘East Coast Company’, the
Napier-based unit of 5/7 Battalion, will march in the
Saturday street parade.
•
• All three armed
services will be acknowledged during the ‘Salute to the
Services’ at the Sound Shell on Saturday
afternoon.
•
In addition to the current Defence
Force presence, the past history of the armed forces will be
represented by enthusiasts displaying privately owned
vintage and Warbird aircraft and an old Army
searchlight—which will be demonstrated on two nights of
the weekend.
In Command of HMNZS HAWEA
Lieutenant Antony Norris, 28, attended Taradale High School before joining the Navy in 2005. He has been the Commanding Officer HMNZS HAWEA for just under three months, and will proudly bring his 55m Inshore Patrol Vessel and 30-strong ship’s company into the port of Napier for the weekend.
HAWEA is conducting a patrol in support of Ministry of Primary Industries around the upper North Island. After the Art Deco Weekend, the Patrol Vessel will conduct sea training before returning to Auckland.
The Navy Band
The ever-popular Royal NZ Navy Band returns once again, providing entertainment and ceremony throughout Art Deco weekend. Its ‘Art Deco Extravaganza’ concert on Friday 21 February is a must-see event, after sell-out crowds in the previous two years. In addition the Band will be giving a concert for schools on that Friday morning.
The 30-piece band has recently returned from Waitangi, where it supported official ceremonial events on Waitangi Day. It is fresh from a performance with “Kiwi music royalty” Dame Malvina Major in Gisborne. As well, the Band has been giving school and community concerts and workshops in Opotiki and Ruatoria, as well as Gisborne.
The Band’s Art Deco Programme
Friday
21 February, 11am: Schools’ concert, Napier
Municipal Theatre
1.30pm: Public concert,
Municipal Theatre.
7pm: Sunset
Ceremony at the Sound Shell, commemorating the beginning of
this year’s WW1 anniversaries,.
Saturday 22 Feb, 12noon: Street Parade
Evening Concert and dance set at the Sound Shell.
Sunday 23 Feb, 1230: Veronica Bell parade and dedication
5pm: ‘Swing and a prayer’ Church service and concert, Cathedral
ENDS