New Zealand Navy Band members' personal possessions were stolen during a weekend break-in while the band was taking part in a military parade through Whangarei.
With bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and swords drawn, New Zealand Defence's 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Battalion Group staged the first charter parade in Whangarei for 11 years.
"It went really well, it was brilliant, but the break-in of the navy band bus left a nasty taint to the day and given them a horrible reflection of Whangarei to take away with them," Major Roberta Wilkinson said.
Police said the door of the locked bus parked in Rust Ave was jemmied open, and wallets, cellphones and other items stolen.
Although bad weather delayed the parade's start, many people turned out to watch the colourful and archaic ritual that acknowledges a city's appreciation for a unit's service to the country. A charter parade is also a way for the services to pay tribute to the support of families, friends and work colleagues that enables local soldiers to deploy on operations overseas, Ms Wilkinson said.
