Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The annual national commemoration for Vietnam Veterans Day was marked at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
The ceremony was held to honour more than 3000 New Zealanders who served in the Vietnam War between 1963 and 1975 in military and civilian positions.
Thirty-seven men died and 187 were wounded while serving in the war. Two civilians working for the surgical and Red Cross teams also lost their lives.
The Vietnam War was the first war in which New Zealand did not fight alongside its traditional ally, Great Britain, reflecting the country's increasingly strong defence ties with the United States and Australia.
RNZ's visual journalist Samuel Rillstone attended the event.
The commemoration was held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister of Customs Jo Luxton lays a wreath at the Commemoration for Vietnam Veterans Day. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A wreath was laid to remember veterans. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister of Customs Jo Luxton. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone