War is the real enemy, says PM

On the eve of a trip that will take the Prime Minister on her third visit to Gallipoli, Helen Clark yesterday launched a Turkish film on Gallipoli that she said identified war as the enemy.

At the opening at Te Papa, the PM said: "When we look back to the Gallipoli campaign we see it bringing to the fore attitudes and attributes which played a part in shaping New Zealand as a nation."

She said the campaign summed up the strengths of New Zealanders with "the knowledge that our people fought bravely, they were ingenious in the way they coped with the situation, they were loyal to each other, they were tenacious, they were practical."

After Gallipoli, New Zealand had a greater confidence in its own identity and a greater pride in the international contribution it could make, she said.

Turkish director Tolga Ornek told the audience that included past and present servicemen and women that the "reception and encouragement and support that we witnessed here also added an additional burden on our shoulders because now we felt even more responsible towards the New Zealanders."

"I didn't want to disappoint anybody who helped with the film."

He said it was not a film about enemies or countries.

"It is a film about ordinary people in trenches who were asked and did extraordinary things for their countries.

"Their endurance, their tenacity, their self-sacrifice on both sides deserves our admiration and respect."

After working on the film for six years, he had equal respect for both sides.

More than 150,000 Turkish people saw the film in the first three days after its premiere last month in Istanbul.

He has been negotiating a distribution deal that he hopes will see it available for general release soon and for TV next year.

Helen Clark also launched an Anzac website developed by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage that includes a virtual tour of some of the sites important to New Zealand, and information on where Anzac Day ceremonies are held around the world.

She also launched a guide book to New Zealand battlefields and memorials at Gallipoli written by historian Ian McGibbon.

Helen Clark then left for an overseas trip that will include attending the 90th anniversary at Gallipoli.

An RNZAF plane will leave tomorrow for the event. Dignitaries for New Zealand's official participation in the event include 35 war veterans and parliamentary representation: United Future leader Peter Dunne, Labour MP Dover Samuels and National MP John Carter.

According to official figures, 2721 of 8500 New Zealanders in the Gallipoli campaign died and 4700 were wounded or fell ill. Turkey lost 87,000; Britain, 21,000; France, 10,000; and Australia, 8000.

The film

* The two-hour film "Gallipoli" by Turkish director Tolga Ornek received its New Zealand premiere at Te Papa.

* The documentary is told through the stories of New Zealand, Australian, British and Turkish soldiers.

* It received backing from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, for which Helen Clark is responsible.

* The PM described it as a film "that identifies war as the enemy".