Congratulations to Wellingtonian Mr. Boyd Klap for receiving the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his commitment in keeping the memory of Anne Frank and the strong message of her diary alive in New Zealand since 2009.

In a small ceremony at his residence , German ambassador H. E. Mr. Stefan Krawielicki has awarded the Document and the Insignia to Boyd Klap which has been bestowed to him by German President, Dr. Frank Walter Steinmeier.

In his speech, Ambassador Stefan Krawielicki called Boyd Klap a phenomenon and a role model for his energy, inspiration and sense of humor. He described him as a force of nature, a man of action, a great networker, an empathetic and true relationship builder, an unstoppable visionary, pretty good in fundraising and with a calendar that sometimes seems busier than that of an Ambassador.

It was an honor and great pleasure for Ambassador Stefan Krawielicki to officially award to Boyd Klap the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Document and Insignia for his achievement with the Anne Frank exhibition in New Zealand, and for the message that Anne Frank and her diary stands for. “We need current and future generations to understand history. Having exhibitions like this is a way we can show respect and honor the past, ensure that we never forget, learn for the future and hope to help prevent crimes against humanity and atrocities such as the Holocaust from happening ever again.”

Full speech of H.E. Stefan Krawielicki, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to New Zealand, on the Award Ceremony of The Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for Mr Boyd Klap in the Residence of the German Ambassador on 25th of November 2021 here

Boyd Klap has spent the past dozen years as one of the driving forces behind several projects revolving around the diary of Anne Frank – a touring exhibition, Te Haumihiata Mason’s translation of the diary into te reo Māori, and now a memorial in a Wellington park. Boyd Klap  has experienced five years of German occupation and I received a Cross for being a courier in the Resistance. Now he received the Cross of Merit from the German Government and is asking himself “How did this happen?”

In his speech, Boyd Klap described why he has pride in receiving the honour of the Germany and why he will wear with pride the honour in a prominent position amongst his other honours.

His grandson, Lieutenant Jacob Klap, will be the custodian of his medals and told him that it is a New Zealand tradition to wear your family’s medals on the right shoulder on Anzac Day - a wonderful thought.

Full speech of Boyd Klap on the Award Ceremony of The Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Residence of the German Ambassador on 25th of November 2021 here