Head of state to visit Israel for battle commemorations

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy will represent New Zealand at centenary commemorations of the Battle of Beersheba in Israel next week. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was unable to attend, having only just been sworn in. New Zealand and Australia fought together in the 1917 battle that was an important strategic victory for British Empire forces in the prolonged Sinai-Palestine campaign. It claimed the lives of eight New Zealanders and wounded 26 more.