Leading from the front issuu

Making a week of it
build communities not prisons, and continuing to lobby
for Ahuriri becoming a Child Friendly City — a UNICEF
initiative that the trust fully endorses.
The Napier RSA is now an important player within the
Pilot City Unity programme. “Amazingly, the RSA now
shares their ANZAC Day with the trust so we can jointly
honour those who have died fighting for Aotearoa”, says
Pat. “When you think about it there is a real synergy between
the trust and the RSA. Both at their heart strive for
peace, within New Zealand and around the world.”
The first Pilot City Dinner was held 30 years ago and
it soon became a regular feature to invite Wellingtonbased
ambassadors and high commissioners to take
part in the celebrations. The War Memorial Function
Centre on the Marine Parade was a popular venue, with
uber-talented all-rounder Denis O’Reily fulfilling the role
of MC for many years. More recently trust dinners have
been held at the Napier RSA, where the events are always
unique and the buffet hearty.
Ngatarawa Wines became another popular feature
at the dinners, with Alwyn Corban generously supplying
a variety of wine styles for the peace-loving dinner
guests. After nearly 15 years of presenting Ngatarawa’s
stellar product free of charge at most trust events, Alwyn
sold the company to the Marist Brothers’ at The Mission.
Hopefully the two events aren’t linked! The trust didn’t
lose Alwyn though; the councillor with the Hastings District
Council is now on the committee as treasurer and
in-house wine adviser.
The guest list at the dinners is always eclectic and interesting.
Even overseas EIT students are regularly welcomed
into the Pilot City whānau for the event, much
to their delight. Surprise entertainers turn up too, such
as Napier’s legendary Tabac Theatre star Buddy Collins,
whose melodramatic gestures and songs dripping
romance was one of the more memorable billings. Pilot
City Unity events are definitely occasions where people
have come to expect the unexpected!
Flags flying, spirits high, Walking for Unity hikoi are even supported in the rain; Pat with Alyson Bullock, one of the trust’s original
members and staunchest supporter.
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Napier Pilot City Trust – for a kinder, fairer city