 |
| Atatürk Memorial, with the bust of Kemal Atatürk looking out over Tarakena Bay. |
About Atatürk Memorial
On Wellington's rugged but accessible south coast on the Miramar Peninsula there is a monument celebrating the close ties Mustafa Kemal Atatürk retained with New Zealand after helping repulse their attack at Gallipoli.
The Atatürk Memorial is situated on a ridge above Tarakena Bay, Wellington. The Memorial looks out over Cook Strait and the site was chosen for its remarkable likeness to the landscape of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The Memorial is an outcome of an agreement between the Turkish, Australian and New Zealand governments. In 1984, Australia asked Turkey if the cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula could be renamed Anzac Cove in memory of the Australian and New Zealand troops who died there in 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War One. The Turkish Government agreed to change the cove's name from Ari Burnu and also to build a large monument to all those who died in the campaign. In return, the Australian and New Zealand governments agreed to build monuments in Canberra and Wellington to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, an incredibly intelligent, bright, and humble man, who served as a divisional commander at Gallipoli and went on to become the first president of modern Turkey.
The Memorial was designed by Ian Bowman and was unveiled on the day after Anzac Day 1990 by the Turkish Minister of Agriculture. The Memorial comprises a marble crescent, a bust of Atatürk, inscriptions written on polished granite, and soil from Anzac Cove – which is buried below a polished marble star. In 1999, a paved forecourt and path, also designed by Bowman, and gravel car parking areas were added with funding from the Turkish Government.
| Baring Head, Pencarrow Head & Cook Strait from Atatürk Memorial. |
The inscription on the Memorial was written by Atatürk in 1934, and is read every year by the Turkish Ambassador on Anzac Day at the National War Memorial, Wellington. The text is as follows:
Those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives, you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears, your sons are now lying in our bosoms and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they become our sons as well.
Wreath laying services are held at the Memorial on Anzac Day, and during August by the Wellington Company of the Wellington and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group to commemorate the Battle for Chunuk Bair.
 |
| Atatürk Memorial from the western end of Tarakena Bay. |
Getting there, views & the cache
Getting to Atatürk Memorial isn’t all too difficult, and is quickly accomplished from the carpark at the bottom of Atatürk Park inland from Tarakena Bay. Parking is ample. Follow the numerous signs up to the Memorial, which rests at an elevation of 64 metres, and is a short 250 metre walk. Another alternative access method is to park at the top of Bowes Crescent and walk downhill on the eastern track to the Memorial. The gradient is not as steep, but the track is longer. Please be aware the track is very well used and is often frequented by joggers and walkers with their canine companions.
The Memorial is sited in a brilliant spot, overlooking Tarakena Bay which is framed to the east by Palmer Head – a promontory of rocks extending almost 900 metres out into the Cook Strait. To the southeast across the harbour entrance Pencarrow Head with its two lighthouses can be seen, and beyond that lies Baring Head. Out to the east, one can see the infamous Barrett Reef, separated from the mainland by Chaffers Passage. To the north from the cache site a very prominent Point Dorset can be seen.
The cache is a 1L camouflaged Sistema hidden in an easily accessible place but it is in a highly visible area and it could be muggled easily. Please rehide the cache well and cover it up. When first placed it contained a logbook with a pen only. Enjoy this historical spot.
Note: It's worth mentioning that this is not the first time this spot has hosted a cache. Placed back in May 2003, a fabled virtual cache was here, GCG21V, before being archived almost 6 years later in March 2009.
 |
| Looking southeast from Atatürk Memorial |