Over the next few days, I will be reflecting on and writing about  Anzac – not just the ceremony, but the spirit behind it.

In my mahi, I have seen too much greed disguised as ambition, fraud hiding behind polished smiles, and conflict justified by egos and agendas.

Too often, I find myself asking: why is there so much hate? Why such discord, such racism, such bias against “the other”?

And yet, we forget that the other is not one fixed group. “The other” changes depending on who is speaking. For some, it’s race. For others, it’s religion. Culture. Gender. Class. Sexuality. Status. Accent. Every one of us has, at some point, been someone else’s “other”.

I grew up in a generation shaped by those who lived through the war that was meant to end all wars. You’d think we’d have learned. But I still see the elderly – scarred by life, lined with stories – passing down not only their wisdom but also their biases. And I see the young – bright, eager, idealistic – being taught to hate in the name of heritage, power, perceived justice, pride.

This Anzac, let us remember what truly matters.

They did not die for us to inherit hate.

They did not sacrifice everything so we could weaponise our differences.

They laid down their lives for peace – for a hope that future generations might live in unity, not division.

Yes, we are different. As people. As races. As cultures. As faiths.

But what unites us will always be stronger than what divides us – if we choose it.

We are each born to leave a mark on this whenua.

We can mark it with aroha, sneham – or scar it with bitterness.

We can build legacies of mana and love – or crumble under envy, fear, and greed.

We must choose well.

Because the decisions we make today will either make or break this land.

To those who lie, bully, steal, manipulate—know this:

The day of reckoning always comes. The truth always finds its breath.

But to the oppressed, the hurt, the broken: it is not your role to hate.

Your power lies in something greater – to sow seeds of kindness, even when it’s hard.

Let me leave you with two thoughts:

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” – variations of this saying attributed to various sources including Mahatma Gandhi and Jimi Hendrix

And finally:

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old... We will remember them.”

Lest we forget – not only their sacrifice, but the reason for it.

Peace. Unity. A better tomorrow. That is our duty now.

– Jessica Gray