POROPOROAKI
The Hon Tariana Turia and the Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Maori Party co-leaders
April 26, 2010

Maori Party pays tribute to fallen soldiers

The Maori Party expresses its sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of the three Air Force pilots and crew who were killed yesterday in the ANZAC Day helicopter crash.

“We pay our deepest respects to all those who mourn Hayden Peter Madsen, Daniel Stephen Gregory and Benjamin Andrew Carson,” co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said.

“These three young men had the best of their lives ahead of them, when they were killed suddenly in the line of duty.

“It is such a tragedy that their role in commemorating previous generations of service men and women has resulted in their own death, almost a century after the original ANZAC Day,” he said.

“I am so sad for their families,” fellow co-leader Tariana Turia said.

“I heard the tragedy over the radio as I travelled to Porirua to attend the ANZAC service.

“I was very saddened and moved to see the helicopter hovering over the crash site just north of Pukerua Bay and to see the helicopters and the rescue services in the lane alongside the coast.

“There are only a small number of helicopter pilots so this is a tight knit community. The pain of their loss will be felt by the Airforce but in particular their families and friends,” Mrs Turia said.

“New Zealand will always be grateful that young men and women continue to volunteer for the armed services and we will be proud to remember these three young men, and their injured colleague, when we commemorate fallen service men and women at every future ANZAC Day.”

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