News items

Haere Ra – John Porter – Community Champion   John Newton Porter, a foundation member of the Kapiti US Marines Trust died in Paraparaumu on March 19, after a long illness. He was 86. John Porter or “J.P.”, as he was known, was a third-generation Paekakariki resident who had vivid and colourful school-boy memor... Keep Reading

Dick Tracey and Norma Milford   http://www.3news.co.nz/A-70-year-old-love-story/tabid/303/articleID/2590 40/Default.aspx     http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/7184367/Engaged- again-after-70-years       ROMANCE REKINDLED: After 70 years Richard Tracy from Dayton, Ohio, and Norma M... Keep Reading

Marines Hut a hit at Scout Jamboree   Keas, cubs, and scouts from Porirua to Levin were all visitors to the Marines Memorial site as part of the Kapiti Coastal Scout Zone’s Jamboree on the Trail - in Queen Elizabeth Park on May 12. Jamboree on the Trail is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together. The event is ... Keep Reading

Ramaroa a blessing on Memorial Day   Ramaroa, the newly opened QEP park centre, proved its worth as a haven for the crowd of over 120 people who turnout out in freezing conditions for this year’s Memorial Day service on Monday May 28, 2018. Over the past eight years, the Trust has had a remarkable run of good weather for its annu... Keep Reading

Ramaroa influenced by WWII US Marines buildings Ramaroa, the recently opened GWRC park centre at Mackays Crossing, is proving a real bonus for stakeholders in the park. The Trust is very grateful for use of the centre for meetings, hosting visitors and most recently as a wet weather venue for its Memorial Day Service. Designed by Ben Gilpin... Keep Reading

New signs and disability ramp for Marines Hut   Children and people with disabilities will now have a better view of the interior exhibition in our newly restored US Marines Hut – thanks to the recent installation of a disability ramp by great volunteers from the Kapiti MenzShed. The ramp sits beneath the front viewing window, wh... Keep Reading

Heritage water reservoir closed   The US Marines heritage water reservoir on Whareroa Farm has been closed down because it was contaminating the farm water supply. The Department of Conservation says birds were defecating in the open reservoir and the wooden structure across the top was rotting and falling into the water. While it has ... Keep Reading

Pearl Harbour Survivor to attend Memorial Day Service   Jack Rogo, a 97 year old survivor of Pearl Harbour, will be a “star” guest at this year’s Memorial Day service at the US Marines Memorial in Queen Elizabeth Park. Trust Chair Richard Benge says “it’s exciting and fitting” to have Mr Rogo visit b... Keep Reading

Convoy100 visits Memorial Site The US Marines Memorial in Queen Elizabeth Park, (Formerly Camp Russell), was an early attraction for the Armistice 100 Convoy when it visited the former Camp Russell on March 22. Organised by the New Zealand Military Vehicle Club, to commemorate the end of WWI, the Convoy started in Rotorua on March 18 travell... Keep Reading

Red Knights Ride of Respect   Over 130 motorcycles and riders from the Red Knights Motorcycle Club visited Queen Elizabeth Park and the US Marines Memorial on April 22 as part of a Ride of Respect to commemorate the end of WWI. The ride, which raised $2,500 for the National RSA, started out with a wreath-laying at the Pukeahu War Memo... Keep Reading

Jenny Rowan steps down as Trust Chair Founder of the Kapiti US Marines Trust, Jenny Rowan recently resigned as Chair of the Trust after eight years in the role.  Ms Rowan founded the Trust in 2010, while serving as Mayor of Kapiti. She will be replaced by the Deputy Chair, Richard Benge, who has also served on the Trust since its incept... Keep Reading

  Haere Ra – Ted Picard   Theodore (Ted) Picard, one of three U.S.Navy veterans who returned to Kapiti in 2012 to honour his ten mates who drowned in a tragic landing exercise off Paekakariki Beach during World War II, died in Hatfield (Maine) on November 9, aged 97. The three men forged a life-long friendship in the Navy. ... Keep Reading

Haere Ra - Norman Hatch Norman T. Hatch, a Marine Corps cinematographer whose dramatic footage of the Battle of Tarawa won an Academy Award, died on April 22, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. He was 96. Mr Hatch had a long and prestigious career as a cinematographer in the Marines and received a 1944 Navy Commendation for his work in Tarawa; a... Keep Reading

WWII Marines Hut becomes a new story-telling hub   A WWII U.S. Marines Hut lovingly restored by the MenzShed Kapiti, has now been taken to Queen Elizabeth Park (formerly Camp Russell) – to begin its new life. The hut was loaded onto a transporter and moved down the expressway to its new resting spot alongside the U.S. Marines Mem... Keep Reading

Obituary: Frank Zalot   Survivor of World War II Paekakariki drowning tragedy dies – aged 92   Frank Zalot Jr, the heroic U.S. signalman who survived a tragic war-time drowning on Paekakariki beach in June 1943, died in Massachusetts on January 10, aged 92.   Mr Zalot enlisted in the U.S.Navy on his 17th birthday &... Keep Reading