Abel Tasman National Park Opened

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1942, Page 6

Abel Tasman National Park Opened

'P.A.) NELSON, This Day. The official opening of the Abel Tasman National Park, a coastal area of nearly 38,000 acres on the western side of Tasman Bay, was performed by the Governor-General at a ceremony held at Kaiteriteri Beach on Saturday afternoon. It was originally proposed to hold this Dart of the Tasman tercentennial celebrations at Turrenty Bay, within the new park area, but threatened rough weather during the morning resulted in cancellation of he launch trip across the bay and transference of the ceremony to Kaiteriteri, a more convenient, but almost equally picturesque, spot a few miles east of the park boundary. In addition to His Excellency, who was accompanied bv Lady Newall, those present included the Prime Minister and Mrs. Fraser, the Ministers for Internal Affairs, Lands and Justice, and the Netherlands Government delegation, headed by Dr. Charles O. van der Pias. The official party, which travelled from Nelson by car, included Mr. Black, M.L.C., Mr. Atmore, M.P., representatives of all local bodies in the district, officials of Government departments interested in the area, members of local organisations who have given their interest and support to the proposal, representatives of the Maori race and several others, including Mrs. Perinne Moncrieff, who prepared the petition to the Government to have this area of great historic and botanical interest dedicated as a national park bearing Tasman’s name.

Queen Wilhelmina’s Message Dr. Plas confirmed acceptance by the Queen of the Netherlands of her nomination as patroness of the park, and read the following message from Queen Wilhelmina to the Government and people of New Zealand in recognition of the occasion: "On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the visit of Abel Tasman to New Zealand, I send my greetings to its Government and people. The bonds of friendship between the Netherlands in Europe, the Netherlands Indies and New Zealand, which can be said to have originated from Tasman's discovery, have been cemented through the years Into something which will stand for ever. Abel Tasman National Park will remind us of those early days. It will remind us, too, of the present period, when soldiers and sailors of the Netherlands are fighting in a struggle in which we are allied against our common enemies in the west and in the east in a struggle in which they arc proud to have the dauntless sailors, soldiers and airmen of New Zealand as their comrades in arms. When victory has been attained, our collaboration in the work of reconstruction in the economic field will undoubtedly contribute to the establishment of a happier world.” Progressive Holland

Mr. Plas spoke of the traditional mission of the House of Orange, its idealism, unwavering' religious faith, and its deep love for the common people of Holland, the Netherlands East and West Indies, which had carried the long reign of the Queen to witness an outstanding improvement in social conditions and a degree of social justice which had singled out Holland to stand with New Zealand and Australia foremost among the nations in qiany progressive features. It had caused Holland to lead Europe in the housing and education of its people and prepared them lor a new outlook of the common man in the near future. Dr. Plas said: “That, therefore, we shall stand close together in the fulfilment of this sacred task gives a special meaning to our joining in commemoration of the discovery of this, your fair land, with its Netherlands name given by a Netherlands sailor." Unique Occasion Mr. Parry referred to tire fact that it war, the only time in New Zealand history when personal representatives (Dr. Plas and the Governor-General) of two reigning monarchs had been on our soil. "The permanent reservation of Abel Tasman National Park as a lasting memorial on the part of the coast so closely associated with the history ol' voyages not only of Tasman but also of Cook and d'Urville and the Wakefield expedition, is the most fitting gesture that could be made by the Government,” said Mr. Barclay. Another early visitor to the Astrolabe Roadstead was Mr. Carrington, of the Plymouth Company, which ultimately founded New Plymouth settlement. “This man," added Mr. Barclay, "recorded his regret on leaving Tasman Bay because tire scenery about Adele (named after d’Urville’s wife) and Fisherman’s Islands, in the Astrolabe Roadstead, was the only part of New Zealand he had seen that came up to his ideas of the beautiful and romantic.”

The Minister announced the following personnel of the board to control tiro area: Chairmen of the Waimea and Takaka County Councils, the Mayors of Nelson and Motueka and Members of Parliament for Nelson and Motueka, the Commissioner .for Crown Lands and Conservator for State Forests, Mrs. P. Moncrieff and Mr. F. G. Gibbs (Nelson). Grit, Fortitude, Devotion

The Prime Minister described the park as one of nature’s great gifts and expressed the hope that the'area would be made easily accessible to the people of the Dominion so that they could enjoy its beauty and -many interesting characteristics.

Sir Cyril Newall said it was indeed fitting that this living memorial to a fellow countryman of members of the delegation should be dedicated at a moment when the British and Netherlands nations were engaged together on an enterprise which demanded from everyone the very qualities which marked Abel Tasman. In conclusion, His Excellency added: "May this park be a lasting pledge that we will face the unknown dangers of the future with the same grit, fortitude and devotion to duty as Abel Tasman and his men faced ' the unknown dangers of the South Seas. Thus and only thus will we prevail. It is with the greatest pleasure that I now declare the park open to all people of New Zealand."