New Zealand / History

In pictures: Anzac Day marked at dawn services across NZ

11:48 am on 25 April 2024
The Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Soldiers gather at the Cenotaph at Auckland War Memorial Museum for the dawn service. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Thousands are remembering those who fought and died in war. Here are some of the best photos from services around Aotearoa.

Auckland

The Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

A veteran at the Auckland service. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

The Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Servicepeople arrive at the service. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Auckland Council was expecting thousands of people at the Cenotaph. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

The weather in Auckland was fine but chilly. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Veterans march at the service. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Servicepeople parade as the sun comes up. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Veterans parade in their medals. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

A drummer at the Auckland service. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Servicepeople line up. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Poppies left on the Cenotaph. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

The sun comes up as the service concludes. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Wellington

People gather at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The Cenotaph is lit up at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Veterans and servicepeople parade at Pukeahu. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The band plays at Pukeahu. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The relative of a veteran wears their medals on the right side of their chest. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

The chiefs of the New Zealand and Australian Defence Forces spoke of the strong bond between the countries at the Pukeahu service. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Governor-general Dame Cindy Kiro lays a wreath. Photo: RNZ

Some of the crowds at Pukeahu. Photo: RNZ

Speeches at the Wellington service. Photo: RNZ

A serviceperson is silhouetted as the sun rises. Photo: RNZ

Andrew Little at the dawn service. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

A child's note left in memory of the Anzac soldiers. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Poppies left after the dawn service. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

People pay their respects. Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

A private ceremony goes ahead at the Hall of Memories under the Cenotaph after a larger, public ceremony was cancelled due to high winds. Photo: Angus Dreaver/RNZ

Dame Cindy Kiro arrives at the Hall of Memories. Photo: Angus Dreaver/RNZ

This statue, 'Mother and Children', represents families left behind during wartime. Photo: Angus Dreaver/RNZ

A veteran arrives at the private ceremony. Photo: Angus Dreaver/RNZ

Servicepeople stand during the ceremony. Photo: Angus Dreaver/RNZ

Kerikeri

A colour party from Springbank School at the Kerikeri Anzac Day dawn ceremony. Photo: RNZ

Piper Dereck MacKay. Photo: RNZ

Former Māori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels pays his respects at the Kerikeri memorial wall. Photo: RNZ

People lay poppies at the memorial wall. Photo: RNZ

The laying of wreaths at the Kerikeri dawn service. Photo: RNZ

Springbank School student Hunter Blakeman leads the Kerikeri civic service. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Flags are lowered for the last post during the Kerikeri service. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Vietnam veteran and Kerikeri RSA president Bill Godfrey addresses the civic service. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Minister Shane Jones lays a wreath at Kerikeri's memorial wall. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Manatuwhenua Taurua-Jenkins, 14, of the Kerikeri Cadet Unit, stands guard at the memorial wall. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Korean War veteran Victor Peach, with healthcare assistant Amanda Miller, lays a poppy at Kerikeri's memorial wall. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Christchurch

Families gather ahead of the dawn service. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

A veteran at the Christchurch service. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Veterans arrive at the service. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

A wreath is laid at the Christchurch service. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

The band plays. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

The service was the second to be held in the city centre since the 2011 earthquakes. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Dignitaries at the Christchurch service. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

A serviceperson salutes. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

A bugler plays near the cathedral. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon

Wreaths are laid. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon