ANZAC DAY

Anzac Day is a day to reflect on, and be grateful to, our Anzac veterans. More than 2700 New Zealanders lost their lives serving as part of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps that landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

We also remember those who have served in conflicts since that time. It is a day to appreciate all our veterans, and those currently serving in our armed forces. On Anzac Day the Defence Force will have more than 600 personnel deployed on 14 peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions, and defence exercises around the world.

This year the Defence Force has also provided support on our own shores. When tragedy struck Christchurch on 22 February, they responded immediately.

During the past year the Defence Force has sustained tragic losses. Last Anzac Day, a helicopter crash claimed the lives of three Iroquois crew, Flight Lieutenant Hayden Madsen, Flying Officer Daniel Gregory, and crewman Corporal Andrew Carson.

In Afghanistan we lost three New Zealanders: Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell, Private Jack Howard (serving in the British Army), and Private Kirifi Mila.

While our forces today may serve our country in a very different way to the Anzacs at Gallipoli, they are upholding democracy, preserving peace, providing aid, and supporting people around the world.

AUT MILLENNIUM CAMPUS

I recently visited the new AUT Millennium Campus in Mairangi Bay with my colleague Murray McCully, the Minister of Sport and Recreation. Murray led the groundbreaking ceremony for New Zealand’s National Training Centre for High Performance Sport. It is amazing to see the North Shore playing such a crucial role in the national sporting strategy.

The CEO of the Millennium Institute, Mike Stanley, said that “the Institute is already operating at capacity and yet the need to provide superior facilities for athletes and coaches has never been greater”. The Government’s injection of $15 million into this stage of the expansion project indicates New Zealand’s firm commitment to growing our world-class sporting community.

The first facilities at the training centre will be open towards the end of the year. This will provide our best athletes, coaches and sporting specialists with incredible training opportunities in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. I look forward to seeing the talented sportsmen and women who will come through this centre representing New Zealand in the years to come.

HESPERIDES VISIT

Last Saturday I visited the Spanish oceanographic research vessel Hesperides docked at Princes Wharf. Spain’s Ministry for Science and Technology are the operators of Hesperides. Commander Juan Antonio Aguilar, the commanding officer, and Spanish Ambassador Marcos Gómez led an excellent tour of the ship.

Hesperides is on a voyage to circumnavigate the globe, and Auckland is the midway point. This is a unique mission as previously the ship has mainly been deployed for research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It has been examining the impact of climate change on the world’s oceans. Data is collected and analysed continuously across the ship’s eleven state of the art laboratories.

As Hesperides heads north to Honolulu it will also measure for radioactive runoff from the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. It is a remarkably adaptable scientific vessel in that respect. The visit was another important reminder of the opportunities for New Zealand and Spain to collaborate in marine science.

HAPPY EASTER

I wish everyone a peaceful and happy Easter. Enjoy the holiday with family and friends.

Hon Dr Wayne Mapp

MP North Shore

© Scoop Media