Cape trek a tribute to those who paid the ultimate price

FORESTRY IMPACT: Hirini Reedy completed another walk around the East Cape today when he arrived at C Company House in Stout Street to end a 300-kilometre, two-week trek . Along the way he was disturbed at the impact of forestry on the East Coast environment. Here he points to slash left behind on a hillside at Hiruharama near Ruatoria. Picture supplied

EAST Coast man Hirini Reedy completed another of his C Company “walks of remembrance” around the East Cape when he arrived at C Company House in Stout Street today.

“I feel I have a duty to keep the memory of our war dead alive,” said the former New Zealand Army officer, whose latest walk took 14 days and covered 300 kilometres.

Mr Reedy first walked around the Cape in 2014, coinciding with the opening of the memorial house next to Tairawhiti Museum.

Last year he walked the length of New Zealand in 100 days, again in memory of C Company.

Mr Reedy carries with him a flag bearing the portraits of nearly 1000 C Company soldiers.

During his walks he talks to people he meets about the need to care for the environment and each other.

“It is very tiring covering long distances on foot. I sleep wherever I find a good spot. The pack I carry gets heavy, then there’s the rain, a sore body and thirst.

“But the flag I carry and what it represents gives me a spiritual strength. Lest I forget the ultimate price those men paid.”

Mr Reedy, who has an honours degree in civil engineering, has observed the impact of the forestry industry over the past fortnight.

'Pine industry has signifcant adverse impact on land health, coastlines, rivers and roading'“The pine industry is having a significantly adverse impact on the land health, coastlines, rivers and roading,” he said.

“I assessed the cost benefits of the impact as I walked the Coast.

“Roads are under sustained heavy logging truckloads of around 20 tonnes, which is causing chambering, subsidence due to the heavy weight, water seepage, papa rock and runoff from deforested sites.

“There is inadequate culvert and slope reinforcement.”

Mr Reedy said locals told him areas like Waikawa and Whanarua Bay had had single-lane roadworks for six months.

“Poor roading is repeated between Te Araroa and Tikitiki, Te Puia and Tokomaru hill.”

Slash, which he had seen plenty of, was also a problem, he said.

Mr Reedy walked with a sign “The Price of Citizenship 75 Years” on his pack.

“It got a lot of young ones asking me what that means. I reminded them of the Ngarimu Victoria Cross investiture ceremony held October 6, 1943, and The Price of Citizenship.

“I told them the world is in an uncertain state, with potential sources of conflict, so be prepared.”

Mr Reedy pointed to the “new enemies” society must face.

Society's new enemies are the five Ps“I call them the five P’s — P (methamphetamine), pine, poverty, piss and predators. Blunt words but the message hits home.”

Along the way he has also talked to people about supporting a C Company ranger cadet programme.

“There has been much support for piloting it — a mix of Outward Bound, military ethos, values, eco-kaitiakitanga (guardianship and conservation), and selected trade and techno skills that meet future needs.

“I have had time to talk to teachers, the RSA and company descendants, who want to see the C Company legacy continue.”