ANZAC Day: Remembering Our Heroes This Friday – Events Across NZ

This Friday, New Zealand will remember Anzac Day, a special time to honor those who served in the military. People will gather from early morning until noon to pay their respects alongside veterans and other important guests.

Events Across New Zealand:

– Auckland: One of the biggest dawn services will happen at the War Memorial Museum in Parnell. It starts at 5:45 am, and the main service begins at 6:00 am. A group called Vanguard Military School will perform a powerful haka to honor the fallen soldiers. If you’re attending, arrive early because parking is limited and some roads will be closed.

– Wellington: In the capital, the ceremony will take place at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, starting at 6:00 am. Veterans and visitors will gather on Tasman Street from 5:30 am. The event will include speeches, songs, and the playing of the Last Post, with important officials expected to attend.

– Christchurch: A service will be held in Cathedral Square, starting at 6:15 am. Veterans will march in from Worcester Bridge, and the New Zealand Army Band will perform. The ceremony will end with the Last Post, a minute of silence, and the national anthem.

– Hamilton: There will be a Dawn Service and a Civic Service at Memorial Park’s Cenotaph. The dawn parade begins at 5:50 am and will include performances by the Waikato Rivertones Chorus and Salvation Army Band, followed by a Civic Parade at 9:50 am.

– Tauranga: Various locations will have services, including Mt. Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, Te Puna, and Pyes Pā. The city center’s dawn service starts at 6:00 am at the RSA Cenotaph, with a Civic Memorial Service at 9:00 am at Memorial Park.

On April 27, a special ceremony will take place in Le Quesnoy, France, to remember when New Zealand troops freed the town in 1918. Both New Zealand and French people will attend this important event.

People will wear red poppies and distribute Anzac biscuits, which are special cookies made for soldiers. Flags will be flown at half-mast to show respect.

Trading Restrictions:
On Anzac Day, many shops will open late. Most stores can’t open until 1:00 pm, except for pharmacies, service stations, and some cafés. In tourist areas like Queenstown, stores can open from noon. Selling alcohol is allowed only with meals, and many cafés will have a special charge, which they must show to customers.