We Remember: September 3rd is Merchant Navy Day

Dur­ing the Second World War, thou­sands of New Zea­l­and sea­farers volun­teered to serve in the Mer­chant Navy.

They sailed ship­ments of fuel, food and oth­er essen­tial sup­plies across the world, and delivered troops and mil­it­ary equip­ment where they were needed. 

The work was import­ant and extremely dan­ger­ous. 4,700 Allied mer­chant ships were sunk dur­ing the con­flict, and 30,000 Allied mer­chant sea­men lost their lives.

This included New Zea­l­and ships like the Turak­ina and the Lim­er­ick, and at least 140 Kiwi mer­chant sea­farers were killed with a sim­il­ar num­ber taken pris­on­er.

The mer­chant navy faced great­er danger than any oth­er group of New Zea­l­and civil­ians. Their sac­ri­fice and hero­ism will be remembered forever.

Mer­chant Navy Day is being com­mem­or­ated at the below times and loc­a­tions on Sunday Septem­ber 3^rd.

The excep­tion is Nel­son, where due to schedul­ing issues the cere­mony is on Sat­urday Septem­ber 2^nd.

Auck­land: 11am

The Mari­time Room

Princes Wharf, Corner Quay and Hob­son Street

Taur­anga: 2pm

Sul­phur Point

Hatu­patu Drive

Napi­er: 11am

Taradale RSA

156 Gloucester St, Taradale

Wel­ling­ton: 11am

Nation­al War Memori­al

Pukeahu Nation­al War Memori­al Park

RSVP by Monday 28 August to ensure seat­ing

Tele­phone 04 817 8910 or email: vco.rsvp@dia.govt.nz

Nel­son: 11am

(Note: This event takes place on Sat­urday)

Anzac Park

Between Haven Road and Ruther­ford Street

Lyt­telton: 2pm

Lyt­telton War Memori­al Ceno­taph

Albion Square

Bluff: 11am

Mari­time Museum

241 Fore­shore Road