Anzac Day remembered in NZ and around the World

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will be spread from Northland to Invercargill on Friday 25 April providing support to a wide variety of commemorative activities to mark one of New Zealand’s most significant days, Anzac Day.

There will be Defence Force representatives at the many dawn and civic ceremonies held at war memorials and town halls around the country. The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae will attend a Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Wellington.

“On Anzac Day we recognise the sacrifice of the men and women of Australia and New Zealand who have shared so many experiences on battlefields around the world. We also honour a new generation of men and women who are serving our country; their courage, commitment, comradeship and integrity,” said Lieutenant General Mateparae.

Lieutenant General Mateparae will also attend the National Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the National War Memorial in Wellington together with the Governor General of New Zealand, The Honorable Anand Satyanand, Her Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast and the Secretary of Defence, John McKinnon.

At the National War Memorial in Buckle Street NZDF personnel will provide a dawn to dusk vigil ceremony over the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior from 6am to 6pm.

At Gallipoli, the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott will represent the NZDF at the commemorative service. Music will be provided by the New Zealand Army Band and members of the NZDF currently based in the Sinai will provide the catafalque party. Anzac Day services will also be held where NZDF personnel are on missions overseas including Afghanistan, Timor Leste, Korea, Sudan, and the Solomon Islands.

On Anzac Day over 800 New Zealand Defence Force personnel will be serving overseas on operations, UN missions and defence exercises. Of this figure 588 personnel are on operational deployments.