Guy Nathan: National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Guy Nathan: National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 27 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5777. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Veterans’ Affairs) 
: 
 I wish to take a call and support in essence the previous two speeches from Minister Finlayson and also the deputy leader of the Labour Party Grant Robertson who was there on the day that this project was launched with the Prime Minister and with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Wellington City. We know that this project is hugely significant. I was there yesterday with the Prime Minister the Minister of Defence and Iain Lees-Galloway representing the Opposition when we were commemorating the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Bomber Command. Of course 32 of those veterans travelled to London and were back sharing their experiences yesterday at the National War Memorial and also at a function in the Grand Hall afterwards. 
It was interesting standing down on the edge of State Highway 1 on Buckle Street waiting to greet the Prime Minister with all of that traffic zooming by. When the Prime Minister did arrive meeting other representatives the noise of State Highway 1 was not something that was desirable for the National War Memorial Park which we want to establish there. So thank goodness that the Prime Minister has stepped up to the plate and sought some extra funding to ensure that we can cut and cover the project so that State Highway 1 can be underground. When we get to the special significance of the centennial of those 2721 who lost their lives at Gallipoli almost 100 years ago—it will be in 2015 when the park is open—we can stand there and celebrate in essence what they did for our country. 
On that note I think it is important for everyone to realise that we are in a space where we have an online survey seeking support from New Zealanders and interest from those who want to travel to Gallipoli in 2015. We are seeking their feedback and we have an online survey that is open until 25 November. I urge those who are interested to get involved and give us their feedback. Early indications are that there will be 30000 or 40000 New Zealanders who want to travel to Gallipoli in 2015. 
For those in the House who have been on the peninsula and I was fortunate to go this year we all realise that it is pretty much a national park that the Turkish authorities have to be involved in managing the numbers and that means that there will be a ballot process similar to what there has been for the Olympics the recent royal wedding etc. etc. We are going to have to manage the expectations and the indications are that we will be allocated somewhere in the vicinity of 2000 places and that is lining up with Australia which will be allocated somewhere in the vicinity of 8000 places. It is in essence going to be sorted by the proportion of fatalities that we lost on the Gallipoli Peninsula. 
 In conclusion this is a very important project. I acknowledge all of the people who have been involved in this project to get it to where it is now. I am sure the whole of the House is going to be really excited that come 2015 we are going to have a very special place to commemorate and say thank you to all the veterans who have served for New Zealand. Thank you very much.