Soldiers uphold city duties

The 6th Battalion City of Tauranga Charter Parade went through the streets of Tauranga on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

A long-standing partnership between Tauranga City and the local territorial force battalion was honoured and celebrated on Saturday with a parade through the city.

More than 70 soldiers and 30 NZ Army Band members marched from the Memorial Gates at Wharepai Domain to Tauranga City Council offices on Willow St.

The 6th Battalion (Hauraki) City of Tauranga Charter Parade was a way to celebrate the relationship between the two organisations and reinforce the defence force's right to carry guns through the city, honorary colonel Grant Ellis said.

A charter was a tradition that dated back to Roman times when a city would award the military unit the right to bear arms in the city walls, he said.

"Tauranga and the Hauraki has had this relationship since 1969 so every few years the unit marches through the streets and the charter is read out to reinforce the right to bear arms in the streets."

The last parade was in July, 2009, Mayor Stuart Crosby said.

Mr Crosby acknowledged the unit for its service to Tauranga City, namely during serious flooding when a number of homes were lost, and the grounding of the Rena.

He also thanked them for their support and service for the city's civil defence.

The parade was timely with the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I and it was significant that it began at the Memorial Gates at the Tauranga Domain, Mr Crosby said.