Waipiata's war memorial has a new angel - just in time for Anzac Day tomorrow.
The new angel took three months to carve and was installed at the small Maniototo settlement's war memorial yesterday.
Its predecessor had lost a section of its right arm and had several chips and holes.
Repair was not believed an appropriate option, and the Waipiata Community Development Committee raised $7500 for the angel's replacement.
Committee members allocated $2000 to the project, after which a further $5500 was given by the Waipiata Ute Muster Committee ($2000), Maniototo Community Board ($2500) and the Maniototo Community Trust Fund ($1000).
The original angel will be displayed in a cabinet at the Waipiata hall. Once the new angel's monument has been cleaned, an official ceremony will be held in mid-May.
Descendants of those named on the Waipiata memorial will be asked to attend.
• The Queenstown RSA is running a special Anzac Day concert, "We Will Remember Them", tomorrow night.
The two-hour show in the Queenstown Memorial Hall, which will start at 7pm, was an effort to "bring the Anzac message to a wider audience", Queenstown RSA president Dave Geddes said.
A strong line-up of well known Queenstown artists will feature at the concert, including Simon Green, Rachael Gerard, Emily Burns, Molly Devine, Jill Derby and The Bellebirds (Jill Tremain, Vicki Buckham, Cheryl Collie and Pip Macauley).
• A parade has been reinstated as part of Omakau's Anzac Day commemorations this year.
Omakau RSA president Graye Shattky said war veterans used to march along the town's main street to the Anzac service, but as the veterans got older, it was decided to dispense with the parade.
"This year we've decided to reinstate the tradition and have a parade for the first time in a few years," Mr Shattky said.
It would be a short march, from the Commercial Hotel to the Omakau hall, followed by the wreath-laying ceremony outside the hall.
Then everyone would move into the hall for the service.
• In Oamaru, children and teenagers from several youth groups laid posies at the Oamaru Services cemetery yesterday, in an annual tradition.
The Rev Nancy Parker told those present Anzac Day was to commemorate those who gave their lives and those who sacrificed their youth to go to war.
