Summer has arrived at Te Arawhata, and with it a season full of meaningful moments, both here in Le Quesnoy and beyond.
At the start of the month, Te Arawhata’s Marketing and Operations Manager, Jacob, and I had the privilege of attending commemorations marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. To stand on those fields, surrounded by people from across the world united in remembrance, was a deeply moving experience and a powerful reminder of why the work we do at Te Arawhata matters so much.
Closer to home, Le Quesnoy was recently touched by a truly poetic initiative: the Poetry Plane.
Words written on seeded paper by students from local and New Zealand schools took flight, released from a First World War biplane to rain down over Le Quesnoy and, hopefully, add poppies, cornflowers and forget-me-nots to our already flower-filled town.
July also brought Matariki, the Māori New Year, one of the most important moments in the New Zealand calendar. A time to look up at the stars, to reflect on the year that has passed, to remember those who are no longer with us, and to set our intentions for the year ahead.
