By Max Aldred For Daily Mail Australia
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A group of young New Zealand Defence Force trainees have broken out into a moving haka to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
Members of Limited Service Volunteer, a program ran by the NZDF for youths at risk, led the traditional Māori ceremonial dance outside the Auckland Museum on Friday.
Dressed in camouflage military gear, the group of both men and women gave an impassioned performance following the news of Her Majesty’s death, while flags flew at half-mast behind them.
The Queen’s death at the age of 96 has sent shockwaves around the world, with many in New Zealand grieving the loss of the monarch who ventured to the country ten times.
Members of Limited Service Volunteer, a program ran by the NZDF for youths at risk, led the traditional Māori ceremonial dance outside the Auckland Museum on Friday
The moving performance was seen in Auckland on Friday
Dressed in camouflage military gear, the group of both men and women gave an impassioned performance following the news of Her Majesty’s death
Flags were flown at half mast as the group of trainees performed the traditional dance
Some of the country’s high ranking officials paid respect to the strong ties the Queen held with the nation.
On her first trip to NZ in 1953 she presented the Royal Navy with the Queen’s Colour.
Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short said Her Majesty’s ongoing dedication to her duties was an inspiration to members of the defence force.
Pictured: the late Queen, wearing a kiwi feather cloak given to her at her coronation in 1953 (right), and Māori tribal head Rick Te-Tau (left) in Christchurch, New Zealand on her Golden Jubilee tour
‘Her dedication and commitment resonated with us all as it is the ultimate example of service which underpins everything we do as members of the New Zealand Defence Force,’ he said.
‘While there will be a sombre mood acknowledging Her Majesty’s death, it is also a time to appropriately celebrate her more than 70 years as our Monarch and her contribution to all walks of life and to the Armed Forces.’
As head of state, the Queen headed the NZDF and its three Services, Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Queen Elizabeth, pictured with the Duke of Edinburgh, made ten trips to New Zealand during her lifetime and headed the NZDF as New Zealand’s sovereign head of state
Queen Elizabeth II visited New Zealand 10 times, last travelling to the country in 2002.
Jacinda Ardern paid the monarch a touching tribute earlier on Friday in a condolence book at parliament house in New Zealand.
The prime minister wrote: ‘With our deepest gratitude for your love for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and for your life of service.’
She followed the English message with the Māori proverb ‘he kotuku rerenga tahi’, which translates to ‘a white heron’s flight is seen but once’.
The use of the message, which refers to a rare event, is considered an honour.
The NZ PM also revealed how she had learned of the Queen’s death when a ‘police officer shone a torch into my room at around ten to five this morning’.
Ms Ardern said she had read accounts of the Queen’s ill health before sleeping and so ‘immediately’ knew what being woken up in the middle of the night meant.
Jacinda Ardern has expressed her country’s condolences to the ‘extraordinary’ Queen Elizabeth II as she shared a touching story between the pair where she was gifted a picture of her laughing and recalled to the PM exactly what made her laugh decades later
The PM earlier recalled her first meeting with the Queen, when she was gifted a picture of Her Majesty laughing on an early visit to New Zealand, decades ago.
‘Not only did she remember the visit, she could remember what was making her laugh,’ she said.
‘That speaks to me of someone who gave a life of service but who also enjoyed the role that she played as difficult I’m sure as it was.’
New Zealand’s official mourning will continue until a State Memorial Service, held after the Queen’s funeral, which is expected in around 10 days’ time.
New Zealanders are supportive of the monarchy with the most recent substantive poll on the a potential separation from the Commonwealth last November on the occasion of the Queen’s death showing 50 per cent opposed compared to 44 per cent in favour.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
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