A new poppy on offer for Anzac Day commemorations this year and and veterans from more recent campaigns included in services nationwide.
Returned Services Associations are fazing out the poppy that has been a staple of the New Zealand remembrance for more than 50 years.
In Ashburton, the RSA will have the traditional poppy and the new sustainable poppy on offer at tomorrow’s annual Poppy Day.
Ashburton RSA president Rob Aldridge said based on previous years ‘‘sales’’, it was likely this year would be the last time the traditional poppy was offered.
The familiar red plastic-based poppy is being replaced by one made entirely from biodegradable paper.
Royal New Zealand RSA national chief executive Evan Williams said the new poppy reflected the enduring importance of remembrance and the organisation’s commitment to responsible and ethical practices.
The new poppy is made from paper using a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources, including material recovered from the waste generated in the production of coffee cups.
Unlike the previous plastic-based poppy, the new design is completely biodegradable.
“The RNZRSA gave careful thought to a wide range of options when considering the future of the poppy used in our National Poppy Appeal, with a strong preference to retain New Zealand-based production where possible,’’ Williams said.
Poppies were manufactured in Christchurch by volunteers using a purpose-built machine. Having volunteers make the poppies has kept the cost of production down.
The machine is nearing the end of its life, parts and material for production were becoming more difficult to access.
With a desire by RNZRSA to move to a more sustainable options, alternatives in New Zealand and off shore were considered.
‘‘The new biodegradable poppy, produced through our partnership with the Royal British Legion in Kent England, is manufactured at scale in a purpose-built facility.
‘‘While exact unit pricing is commercially sensitive, this approach has enabled us to improve cost-efficiency compared with previous production, while retaining the familiar two-petal form and achieving meaningful improvements in environmental sustainability and supply reliability.
‘‘As part of the procurement process, we explored New Zealand-made options. However, the proposals that met the RNZRSA’s requirements, including those involving local design with offshore manufacturing, would have resulted in a notable increase in production costs.
‘‘This would ultimately have reduced the funds available to support New Zealand’s veterans, which remains at the heart of everything we do,’’ Williams said.
The Temuka RSA produced a poppy for consideration by RNZRSA Presidents’ Forum made up of elected representatives from across the country, including Canterbury, during the procurement process.
But the Forum decided not to go with the option.
They took into account factors such as alignment with the RNZRSA’s intellectual property, the importance of retaining the traditional two-petal design, and the relative cost, Williams said.
The poppy is worn on the left hand side. The new poppy is worn so the leaf points to 11am.
Poppy Day – Volunteers will be around in Mid Canterbury tomorrow at the usual sites for the annual Poppy Day appeal. They will be at supermarkets, and in Ashburton at Mitre 10 Mega, and on the corners of Moore, Tancred, Burnett and East streets, as well as at the Ashburton RSA in Cox St.
