Grief shared at Raurimu

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 674, 18 February 1997, Page 3

Grief shared at Raurimu

The special outdoor commemoration service for the victims of the shootings at Raurimu last Saturday week took place at the same time (10am) that the gunman responsible was appearing in the Hamilton District Court to face six charges of murder, eight charges of attempted murder and one charge of illegal possession of a firearm. At the service in Raurimu last Wednesday between 300-400 people - family, friends, representati ves of the government and local council and residents of Raurimu and National Park - gathered in the former school grounds to share their grief, comfort each other and to ceremonially plant six native trees - one for each victim of the massacre - as an expression of 1 i fe and hope rather than death. Among the official party which arrived in two Iroquis helicopters were the Governor General, Sir Michael Hardie-Boys, the primeministerJimBolger, Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton, and member of Parliament for Wellington (from which most of the victims had come for a quiet weekend) Richard Prebble. They were welcomed onto the school grounds by an interdenominational group of ministers representing all the major churches in New Zealand i ncludi ng the Re verend Val Riches from Taumarunui who organised the gathering and presided over the ceremony. She described the events of the previous Saturday as a national tragedy which had left the Raurimu commiinity in shock. Up until then Raurimu had been a safe and tranquil place which had had its beauty devastated and sullied by the events of last weekend she thanked all those who had gone to Raurimu - including police and ambulance crews - to help and thereby risked their own lives. She also thanked all those who had come to support each other on this occasion ... "it is the most significant day in the life of the Raurimu community." Mayor Weston Kirton said that as a representative of the council he had come to share in the pain and grief of the quiet village of Raurimu.

He described Henk Van De Wetering (the only local victim) as a "tall tree in the forest" who, when others were exposed to risk and danger, had gone to help. He said that those who perished will have a permanent place in Raurimu when the six native trees are to be planted as an expression of hope and faith in the future of the community. Sir Michael Hardie-Boys said he had come to share a message from Her Majesty the Queen in person rather than convey her expression of sympathy in writing. Each family of those who died will receive a copy of the Queens letter. He also said he had recei ved a letter from a fri end in England who had read of the tragedy in The Times and had been told that prayers for all the families involved will be said in London's Southwark Cathedral. Jim Paul, a resident of Raurimu, said he had come to speak on behalf of the community which was struggling to come to terms with this tragedy. The senseless loss of six lives

has shattered the life of Raurimu which had once been thought of as a peaceful and secure place to bring up families. Another local man, Colin Parker, said he had come to thank all the people who had come to help over the weekend. "Out of this disaster the whole community has gained strength from the support shown here today", he said. The last speaker was prime minister Jim Bolger. He said the thoughts of the nation were focussed on Raurimu and the families who had been so devastated by the events of last Saturday. He extended the sympathy of the government and all New Zealanders to the Wetering family as well as to all those who had "come to this peaceful and rugged place to escape the hustle and bustle of Wellington last weekend, Following the speeches six native trees were planted by members of the affected families and everyone present was invited to throw in a handful of topsoil to share in this symbolic renewal of life, hope and peace in Raurimu.