Next Saturday the Iwi will gift that land back to the Crown and Defence Force.

It will continue to be used by the Defence Force for the good of all New Zealanders.

This apparently strange exchange of land has a deeper significance.

It marks a unique new relationship of the New Zealand Defence Force and a local Maori group.

Members of the three branches of the Defence Force gathered at Raketapauma Marae and were welcomed on.

Then a Mass was celebrated to deepen the spiritual significance of the day.

All persons, from Defence and the local Iwi, then went to the land in question and a ceremony acknowledging the significance of the day took place.

A plaque on a rock base was unveiled.

The wording reads "This plaque marks the relationship between Ngati Rangi and the New Zealand Defence Force.

It records the vest and gift-back of these lands within Rukutia te Mana, the Ngati Rangi (Treaty) settlement."

Kemp Dryden, Chair of the local Marae, spoke, outlining the background to the day.

He thanked those who have been negotiating since 2015.

He noted that this relationship will expand into commercial opportunities as well.

This will include working together to use the land for housing and employment.

This first in Treaty agreements will mark a new era for Ngati Rangi and the New Zealand Defence Force.

It is the first time such a ‘gifting' or ‘vesting' has taken place involving the Defence Force.

The historical background for this event is that the Crown had gradually subsumed land belonging to Ngati Rangi.

This included a block of land the New Zealand Forces took over as a Communication Base under the banner of the New Zealand Navy.

It was involved for example in communications around the Japanese advances in the Second World War.

Read the whole story and see more pictures

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Supplied

"People come into my office, and many aren't religious, but they are all going through things", says the Principal Defence Force Chaplain Ants Hawes.

"I say to them, 'Look I know you are going through a hard time, things are absolutely bleak but I need to tell you - I have a verse from a favourite Psalm which says ‘tears come at night but laughter comes in the morning.' I want to assure you, as dark as it is now, better days will come."

It's amazing how often the Word of God will bring comfort, even to those who may not believe.

The Word of God is a truth and a strength and a hope for all of our chaplains, and will continue to be so" Hawes said.

Hawes said he would like to thank Bible Society New Zealand's partners. "We don't take for granted the people who gave donations to make these Bibles a reality.

"We will treasure these Bibles and use them," he said.

The Bibles were individually tailored to members of the NZDF, Airforce, Navy and Army.

Each of the three different editions of the NZDF Bible includes messages from the Governor General along with NZDF photographs, the National Anthem and the relevant prayer for each of the Forces.

Most of the Bibles will be given to new NZDF recruits who can choose to attest on the Bible at their swearing-in ceremony.

"They are then asked if they would like to keep the Bible," Hawes says.

"These Bibles will be used week by week and month by month, they will not sit and gather dust. The Word of God is our foundation, it really is.

"We stand on the truth of God and I am constantly using the Bible to minister to and support people."

Bible Society New Zealand has a long history - going back to WW1 - of supplying New Zealand Defence Force chaplains with Bibles.

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Supplied: New Zealand Bible Society

It is one hundred years since the first NZ Defence Force chaplain was killed on active duty.

The service will be attended by the Governor-General, His Excellency, Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Tim Keating, past and present NZ Defence Force chaplains, and relatives of two NZ Defence Force chaplains who died on active duty.

56 year old Chaplain-Major William Grant was killed on 28 August 1915, during a firefight.

He was killed while tending to wounds and recovering bodies of the fallen.

He is buried at Gallipoli, and left behind a widow and five children.

Grant received the 1914-15 Star and the Victory Medal for his service.

Relatives of Chaplain-Major William Grant will attend the service, together with members of his former parish in Gisborne.

Chaplain-Major Grant's great-niece will do a scripture reading during the service.

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• pacific.scoop.co.nz
• Image: movementonline.org.nz