Army takes to streets of Auckland

The 3rd Auckland and Northland Battalion Group will be presented with a new Charter by Auckland Mayor Len Brown at a civic parade to be held in Aotea Square on Saturday 3 December.

A Charter Parade is an historic and proud event for any Army unit. It publicly links the unit with the city from which it draws its members.

After the presentation the soldiers will march down Queen Street, in full dress uniform carrying weapons with bayonets fixed, drums beating, band playing, colours flying, and swords drawn. It promises to be a colourful occasion.

Formalities start at 1030am when Ngati Whatua will greet the Battalion as it arrives at Aotea Square. The Mayor will inspect the 170 soldiers and then present the Battalion with its new Charter.

Following a haka the soldiers will march down Queen Street preceded by an armoured vehicle like that used by NZ soldiers in Afghanistan, the Battalion Colours, and towed Colour artillery gun.

The parade route will be Aotea Square - Queen Street – Wynyard Street – Queen Street – Town Hall.

Many of the soldiers parading have deployed to Bosnia, Timor Leste, the Solomons, Afghanistan, Korea, and the Middle East.

This parade will also mark a change of command status for 11/4 Artillery Battery and 1 Field Engineer Troop who will be reverting to the command their parent regiment units.

What: Military and Charter Parade.
When: 1030 am Saturday 3 December.
Where: Aotea Square, Auckland City.
ENDS

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