Freedom of the District

Freedom of Entry is an ancient honour bestowed to a military unit with historic ties to an area governed by an authority.  Although Freedom of Entry holds no legal bearing, it is the highest civic honour bestowed by the Mayor and Council and is held in high regard due to the unique nature of partnership with the NZDF.

Charters granting Freedom of Entry bestow upon military units the right to parade through the streets of the City on ceremonial occasion and to be present at official functions and ceremonies.  In accordance with military tradition this gives the unit the right to march through the streets with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, and drums beating, bands playing, and colours and banners flying.  The unit may carry out this privilege without a police escort.

Heretaunga Hastings has one Charter, bestowed on the 4th Armoured Regiment RNZAC on 7 September 1958 by Mayor Sir Edwin Bate.  The granting of the Charter formalised a long-held relationship of the regiment with the local authority from its origins in 1868 and association with Sir Andrew Russell.

The current Charter is held by the Wellington East Coast Squadron, Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, RNZAC, who are distinguished by their patches and bannerets in black and white for Hawke’s Bay.  Officers of the regiment accompany the Mayor on civic occasions, and provide ceremonial support for remembrance ceremonies.

It is customary for the Charter to be renewed with each newly elected Mayor.  Charter’s a renewed through the process of a Charter Parade, which is the highest civic protocol officiated by the Mayor.

Meaning of the Freedom of the District to Heretaunga Hastings District and the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles Regiment

The key words in the Charter presented by the District of Heretaunga Hastings are that both parties ‘are desirous of establishing mutual relations.’  All else that follows is proof of the existence of mutual confidence, harmony, goodwill and trust.

The Regiment is to have ‘the right and privilege without further permission being obtained, of marching at all times with drums beating, band playing, colour flying, bayonets fixed and swords drawn through the streets of the City.’  That is the Districts gift.  It means that the Mayor, Councillors and Residents have such confidence in the integrity of the Regiment that in future, permission will not have to be sought to march through the streets in the panoply of war.

The Regiment on its part is to confer on the Mayor and Councillors the honour of viewing a parade once a year, for the purpose of inspection by the Mayor.  It is also to provide two officers in uniform to attend the Mayor on all official important occasions.

These honours also have a meaning.  The first means that the Regiment and its operation are as an open book to the Mayor and Councillors.  The second symbolises the Regiment’s particular interest in the protection of the City.

Between the Regiment and the District of Hastings there has been an exchange of rights, privileges and honours not lightly to be sought or lightly granted for they are steeped in history.

Charter parades

The following historical overview is provided courtesy of the Wellington East Coast Squadron QAMR and is officially read during Charter Parades:

Charter Ceremonies have their roots in Tudor England when the burgesses of thickly populated and wealthy cities and boroughs often had reason to fear the appearance of armed bands in the streets.  The beat of the drum was the dreaded call to arms.

Mayors who were considered lax in raising levies and cash had no welcome for armed bands within their bounds.  Few bandits observed civil laws, and they were owned by their commanders, who in default of payment by the Crown or other authority did not hesitate to seek money, clothing and rations by force of arms.

There were also conflicts between the Crown and local authorities.  The ancient and wealthy City of London resented any suggestions by Parliament and Whitehall.  On one occasion the Lord Mayor had the city gates slammed against the emissaries and troops of the King and Parliament, and as a further safeguard against surprise raids, by-laws were enacted forbidding marching in the streets with drums beating and arms bared without the Mayor’s permission.

Today silken cords at Holborn Bar and Temple Bar stand for the gates.  On state occasions, the Lord Mayor waits at Temple Bar to offer his sword to the Sovereign in token of the City’s allegiance.   But to the Sovereigns forces the City Marshall gives the traditional challenge ‘Who comes there?’  All was well if after naming their unit the Commanding Officer could add ‘… by the Lord Mayor’s permission.  These are trusted Regiments with whom the City of London has long established relations, they hold the City’s Charter and do not have to seek permission to march through the streets of London.

Charter parade sequence and route