NEW ZEALAND MEMORIAL

That this House welcomes the opening, by Her Majesty The Queen, of the New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park Corner as a lasting tribute to the memory of those New Zealand forces who lost their lives in wars fighting alongside their British cousins; notes that the memorial commemorates the enduring bonds between the peoples of New Zealand and the United Kingdom and their shared sacrifice during times of war and represents more than just a place to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but also stands as a symbol of the two peoples' common heritage and shared legacy; recognises that more than 250,000 New Zealanders have served alongside their British counterparts during wars of the 20th century and continue to do so today; and further notes that the memorial itself, called the Southern Stand, was designed by New Zealand architect John Hardwick-Smith and sculptor Paul Dibble, consists of 16 cross-shaped vertical bronze standards, set out in formation across a north east section of Hyde Park Corner, some towering as high as 4.5 metres and represents a striking memorial that can be seen from afar.