Phil Goff

1 February 2009 - Labour leader Phil Goff has written to Westminster City Council in London urging the council to approve a planning application to erect a permanent statue to Battle of Britain hero Sir Keith Park.

Phil Goff, who made personal representations to London Mayor Boris Johnson last year when he was Defence Minister, says a favourable decision would be warmly welcomed by New Zealanders.

Westminster City Council has received planning applications relating to a temporary placement on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square and a permanent position in Waterloo Place next to the Athenaeum.

In his letter to the council's Principal Urban Design and Conservation Officer Michael Gray, Phil Goff said he appreciated the support Boris Johnson offered last year when he met him.

"In both our countries there is widespread recognition of and admiration for the crucial role Sir Keith played in securing victory in the Battle of Britain. This was a pivotal battle in the war and had the outcome been different we would be living in a quite different world today.

"New Zealanders are very proud of the contribution made by Sir Keith and by the very large number of New Zealanders who fought in the Battle of Britain, the second largest foreign contingent after Poland. We also honour the 12,000 New Zealanders who served in the RAF, a quarter of whom perished in their service of King and Country. This was an enormous sacrifice by a very small country."

Phil Goff said that while he appreciated the decision was appropriately one for the council to make, a permanent statue to Sir Keith would honour both Sir Keith himself "and also fellow New Zealanders who served alongside him.

"I know that I speak on behalf of New Zealanders in saying that a favourable decision by you would be warmly welcomed."