First stop Monte Cassino, second stop Normandy for PM

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

Prime Minister Helen Clark will visit France in June for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings by Allied forces.

Next month she will visit Monte Cassino in Italy for the 60th anniversary of battles there.

Helen Clark has made a point of attending major commemorative events involving New Zealand troops, including Gallipoli in 2000, Crete in 2001, Egypt in 2002 and Korea last year.

On the horizon next year are possible trips to the 90th anniversary of Gallipoli and the 60th anniversaries of VE Day (Victory in Europe) and VJ Day (Victory in Japan).

The Prime Minister said she "had it in the back of my mind" she might attend the 90th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

"I went to the 80th, I went to the 85th and I think there is huge New Zealand interest in it."

Her great-uncle was killed at Gallipoli.

At Monte Cassino in 1944 the New Zealand Division fought a costly battle against the Germans.

This month Helen Clark announced more seats for veterans in the official delegation. Fifty will now travel on an Air Force Boeing plane - more than double the number originally planned for.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the cost of taking the veterans was $350,000. Veterans Affairs will also give other veterans $2000 each for private travel.

The costs of the trips for the Prime Minister and her staff have yet to be established.

Almost all leaders of the Allied nations would be represented at the D-Day events, the spokesman said. Veterans Affairs is planning to take 10 veterans, chosen by ballot, to the commemorations.

PM's war trips

April 2000 - Gallipoli.

April 2001 - Canberra (to unveil a New Zealand memorial).

May 2001 - Crete.

October 2002 - El Alamein, Egypt.

April 2003 - Anzac Day commemorations while on visit to Belgium, France and Britain.

July 2003 - Korea.

Planned - Monte Cassino, Italy, next month and D-Day in France in June.

Herald Feature: Anzac Day

Anzac photo exhibition: