One week left for public to have their say on Gallipoli 2015
Hon Nathan Guy
Minister of Veterans’
Affairs
18 November
2012
Media Statement
One week
left for public to have their say on Gallipoli 2015
balloting
New Zealanders have just one
week left to have their say on how to ballot attendance at
Anzac Day 2015 in Gallipoli, says Veterans’ Affairs
Minister Nathan Guy.
“We expect that record
numbers of New Zealanders and Australians will want to
attend Gallipoli commemorations in 2015, marking the 100th
anniversary of the ANZAC landings.
“Because of
the steep terrain, the Anzac Commemorative Site in Gallipoli
can safely hold only about 10,000 people. This means both
countries will need to manage numbers in 2015 to ensure
everyone’s safety.
“Public consultation on how
the Government should ballot places closes on Sunday 25
November. Over 700 people have filled out the survey so far,
but we want to encourage more people to have their say.
“We want to hear New Zealanders’ views about
how the attendance pass system could work and whether
special groups should be given priority. This could include
descendants of Gallipoli veterans, veterans of other wars,
serving members of the Defence Force and youth
representatives.
“New Zealand is expected to
have around 2000 places and Australia 8000, reflecting each
countries casualties at Gallipoli in 1915,” says Mr
Guy.
Under the proposed allocation system, New
Zealanders interested in attending the services at Gallipoli
would register their interest next year with the ballot to
be held by April 2014.
More than 8,500 New
Zealanders and 50,000 Australians served at Gallipoli. By
the end of the eight-month campaign, 2,721 New Zealanders
and 8,709 Australians had died, and thousands were
injured.
The online survey is available at www.gallipoli2015.govt.nz
with submissions closing on 25 November 2012. Physical
copies are available by calling Veterans Affairs New Zealand
on 0800 483 8372.
Mr Guy will be discussing plans
for Gallipoli 2015 at a Ministerial Summit on Veterans’
Affairs to be held in Canberra, Australia from today till 20
November. The summit will be attended by representatives
from Australia, USA and Canada.
ENDS