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More than 70 years after work began on New Zealand's National War Memorial, the Government plans to finish the job.
In 1932 construction began on the Buckle St landmark in Wellington. The memorial hall - which hosts an annual Anzac Day service - and associated carillon were completed and are established features of the city.
However, an associated park and precinct were never finished. Time and traffic has seen a busy three-lane highway built in front of the memorial, presenting a major obstacle to people wanting to visit the complex and pay tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior - a feature added to the memorial in 2004.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a $13 million plan to revamp the land in front of the memorial, reviving the original intention of a commemorative park and land where other nations could build war memorials.
"The memorial park will join the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior as a major focal point for New Zealanders to commemorate our sacrifice during times of war and become a place of deep significance for all of us," Clark said.
Land on the north side of Buckle St, currently home to a service station and a vehicle testing centre, has already been bought for the park. Buckle St, recently relaid as part of Wellington's controversial inner city bypass roading development, will be shifted 30-40m further north.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said her council would consider making a $2 million contribution to the project. She would also recommend a boulevard of pohutukawa trees currently being planted by the waterfront be extended up to the memorial park.
"The National War Memorial precinct will become a significant place for all New Zealanders to commemorate our fellow countrymen and women and therefore needs an entrance befitting its status," Ms Prendergast said.
Ministry of Culture and Heritage chief executive Martin Matthews said the time was right to create the park.
"This is not just a once in a lifetime, it's a once only opportunity to create the space around the National War Memorial that those who created this space intended," he said.
"This is a superior solution to anything else that we were looking at."
Final plans are yet to be done but moving buildings including the petrol station had already started.
