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Monday, November 13, 2006

Welcome, gnome

The New Zealand Memorial was formally opened in Hyde Park corner on Saturday. I rode down and watched the dedication ceremony from a distance. You can see the whole thing and other info on tvnz's website.

A small lump in the throat as Dave Dobbyn, more gnome like than ever, sang Welcome Home (spoilt only by the addition of the lyric "welcome Lord Jesus". What?) and even a tiny tear in the eye during a stirring haka performance.

The memorial is known as the Southern Stand and consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical bronze pillars - each one representing a different aspect of New Zealand life and inscribed with text, patterns and sculptures.

This is as close as I got. That's a video screen on the Duke of Wellington monument.

Watching from the perimeter. That's Helen behind the pole/ bush.

Shadowy security staff in black watched the proceedings from the top of a nearby tall building.