KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's cricketers yesterday joined the campaign to honour Kiwi war hero Sir Keith Park with a statue in London's Trafalgar Square.
The team were photographed with a scale model of the statue at Lord's in north London as they prepared for tomorrow's first test against England. They were joined by two of Sir Keith's great-great nieces, Leigh Park and Laurette Cummins, both New Zealanders working in London.
Sir Keith commanded RAF squadrons which defended London and the southeast during the Battle of Britain, and the 1940 Luftwaffe attacks in World War II, and is considered a key factor in the victory.
The campaign to honour him with a statue was announced by London-based businessman Terry Smith in March.
Mr Smith said it was appropriate the Black Caps were supporting the campaign on the eve of their series against England.
"Sir Keith Park is one of the examples that illustrates the strong bond between our two countries and the Commonwealth as a whole," Mr Smith said. "No one better exemplifies this bond than Sir Keith Park and no one made a greater contribution to winning the Battle of Britain than this great New Zealander."
The full-size statue of Sir Keith, wearing his flying suit and helmet, was made by New Zealand sculptor Roderick Burgess and is being underwritten by Mr Smith, who hopes it can be unveiled on September 15, Battle of Britain Day.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said Sir Keith was "an inspiration" for the team, who were proud to lend their support.
Mr Smith hoped the newly elected Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, would approve the statue.
He hoped to meet Mr Johnson, who previously announced his support of the statue, this week to discuss how they can formalise his approval.
The former London mayor, Ken Livingstone, was opposed to the statue being put in Trafalgar Square.
Defence Minister Phil Goff and film director Peter Jackson are two high-profile New Zealand supporters of the statue campaign.
Mr Goff said this month the Government was wholeheartedly behind the statue and he had written to his British counterpart Des Brown about it.
"The fact that he [Park] is a New Zealander is something for us to be proud of," Mr Goff said.
"As New Zealanders, a statue of Sir Keith will also be a commemoration of the 12,000 New Zealanders who served in the RAF during the war."
New Zealand had the second biggest group of non-British fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain, Mr Goff said.
- NZPA
