NZ’s lowkey farewell
YESTERDAY was designated New Zealand’s National Day of Mourning, Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day.
Sure enough, officially there was a minute’s silence at 2pm as the state memorial service began at St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington.
Present were an array of dignitaries including the Prime Minister and GovernorGeneral. The service was broadcast and livestreamed, and a reasonable number of Her Majesty’s New Zealand subjects would have tuned in.
The whole day, however, seemed after the fact. It failed to zing, despite the best of intentions and efforts.
Instead, it was the aftermath in Britain that captured massive attention and interest in this corner of the world. It was the official funeral, with its glittering pomp and ceremony, collection of world leaders, throngs, and lines of mourners.
That was the crescendo.
The emotion for the long reign, the exemplary service and the character of the Queen was manifest on the streets of London and in Westminster Abbey eight days ago.
In contrast, those outside the large screens on the forecourt of Parliament for New Zealand’s service yesterday had plenty of room to spread out. Auckland’s service at 5pm yesterday and Christchurch’s at 5pm on Sunday were hardly overwhelmed. Any events in Dunedin or Invercargill were hard to find.
New Zealanders, pragmatically, treated yesterday as another public holiday, another long weekend. What employee would say no to that?
None of that should take away from reverence and admiration for the Queen. Yesterday was simply not the best timing. And it was far from the Queen’s home.
New Zealand is, as well, not the place it was in the 1950s and 1960s when the Queen’s visits drew mammoth crowds.
The Government was in a bind after the Queen’s death on the public holiday question. Enthusiasm was peaking. Australia had already announced its day of mourning. Labour would have seemed churlish not to follow similarly.
Nevertheless, the day added significant costs to businesses and disrupted the likes of elective surgery and university and polytechnic programmes and lectures.
Excitement had passed and we had mostly moved on, even from the death of someone as beloved as the Queen.
So, New Zealand marked the Queen’s death in its own way yesterday. While this was vaguely satisfactory, our Memorial Day failed to capture our attention or our hearts.
And another thing
ROGER Federer retired from competitive tennis at the weekend with typical grace and honour.
He takes his place as a sporting ace, one of the greatest and most respected sportspeople of the modern era.
He departs with 20 grand slam wins, including 237 consecutive weeks as world men’s number one. He won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 13 times, and the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award on five occasions. Federer will also be remembered as one of the giant three, along with friend Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Federer, from Switzerland, departs not long after the incomparable Serena Williams. She had powered her way to women’s tennis dominance for nearly two decades, albeit with a different personality. She attracted more admiration than adoration.
Federer, who also became a fashion figure, showed reserve and humility can be accompanied by assurance and confidence. Champions of the world do not have to be flashy, brash or controversial.
Federer and Nadal crying together as Federer completed his career also moved many others to tears.
Noone will begrudge this court favourite his abdication.