ANZAC Day is on the 25th of April, and it’s a time for us to remember those who sacrificed their lives for us. Whether you’re a consistent ANZAC Day commemoration goer, or you’ve never actually been to a Dawn Service, here is a list of the different ways you can remember and honour the bravery of those before us. Anzac Day commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and honours our returned servicemen and women. Thankfully, in 2021, we’re able to mark this day in a safe and meaningful way.
Dawn Services around the country
Wellington: Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, 6am.
This will be televised live on TVNZ and Maori TV.
Auckland: Beginning at 5:30am with a parade marching on Cenotaph Road to Court of Honour to begin Dawn Service at 6am at Auckland Domain in front of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Christchurch: Begins at 6:15am with a parade march. The March begins at the RSA on Armagh Street to Cranmer Square, finishing at 6:30am. The service ceremony will commence, with a minute of silence, concluding at 7:15am.
Tauranga: 5:45am march begins at Hayes Avenue. 6am Dawn service begins at Tauranga RSA Cenotaph, 1237 Cameron Road.
Palmerston North: 6am at Te Marae o Hine.
Events
Wine and paint party – ANZAC Day special Poppy Field Painting
La Zeppa Kitchen and Bar, Freemans Bay, Auckland
Saturday 24th April 2-4pm
Bookings essential
No previous painting experience or artistic ability required. Art In Bloom’s Wine and Paint Party is a social painting class that will give you step by step instructions on how to create the most beautiful Poppy Field painting this ANZAC day!
Buy your tickets here.
Anzac Day at the Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Sunday 25th April 6am – 5pm
Free entry
If you can’t make the Dawn Services at Auckland Domain, you can check out the Auckland War Memorial Museum!
Entry is free to everyone on Anzac Day, the museum will open straight after the Dawn Service.
The Westlake Girls Cantare Choir and Macleans College Chorale at approximately 6:40am, after the Dawn Services, at WWI Hall of Memories on Level 2, the Cantare Choir and Macleans College Chorale will welcome the Dawn with a programme of reflection and remembrance. They will return at 12 noon for another performance.
At 8:30am the Auckland Youth Choir will also be performing a selection of poignant pieces for visitors.
At 9:30am Lest We Forget Poetry Competition Finalists will read their winning entries – the finalists were asked to create a response in poetry or prose to the theme: Children of War.
Aon ANZAC Day Regatta
Ponsonby Cruising Club Inc, 141-151 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven
Sunday 25th April 9:30am – 6:30pm
There are many stories of mullet boats (and others) being put up on the hard or tucked up on a mooring while their owner went off to war and never came back. This race commemorates ANZAC Day in the traditional past time of many of the young men of the wartime era. There is an Honours Board in the Club of PCC Members who went to war.
Click here for more info.
They Shall Not Grow Old – ANZAC Day Film Viewing Special
Sunday 25th April 1:30 – 3:30pm
Roxy Cinema, 5 Park Road, Miramar, Wellington
$11, allocated seating, R16
Using state of the art technology to restore original archival footage which is more than a 100-years old, Jackson brings to life the people who can best tell this story: the men who were there. Driven by a personal interest in the First World War, Jackson set out to bring to life the day-to-day experience of its soldiers.
Buy tickets here.
