New Zealanders, wrapped up against the chill, listen quietly to the dawn service at Anzac Cove with 20,000 others. Picture / Mark Mitchell

New Zealanders, wrapped up against the chill, listen quietly to the dawn service at Anzac Cove with 20,000 others. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Defence politics intruded heavily into Anzac commemorations in New Zealand and Turkey yesterday.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard decided to have a barbecue with his own troops at Gallipoli instead of attending a service for New Zealand’s war dead.

National Party leader Don Brash angered the Government by using a dawn service to allude to under-spending on defence.

And the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, speaking to an audience that included Prince Charles, attacked the British military strategists whose decisions on the Gallipoli campaign had led to the "squandering of life".

Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is also in Gallipoli, is believed to be annoyed that Mr Howard’s no-show is getting so much coverage in New Zealand and last night said it was of no consequence.

But the symbolism of Mr Howard’s decision to attend a sausage sizzle over a memorial service to NZ soldiers has not been lost on Opposition politicians, not least Dr Brash.

Last night, Dr Brash said he did not know if it was a deliberate snub but Mr Howard would not make such a decision without calculating its impact.

He offered a possible reason - Australia’s continued displeasure at NZ’s contribution to defence.

"Perhaps it is hardly surprising, given that New Zealand has been seen, certainly in Australian quarters, as increasingly unwilling to pull its weight in the defence area.

"It is a sad day when the Australian Prime Minister feels he doesn’t want to attend the New Zealand service. He obviously decided this was a lower priority for him than attending a barbecue, and that ought to be worrying to New Zealand."

Helen Clark has not taken offence at Mr Howard’s decision and said he had not been expected to attend the New Zealand service.

The last time she and Mr Howard had both been at Gallipoli, their respective services coincided so they could not attend each other’s.

"It’s really a matter for Mr Howard how he spends his time here," she said on TV One’s Close Up.

Defence Minister Mark Burton accused Dr Brash of abusing the solemnity of Anzac Day.

At the dawn service in Wellington, Dr Brash implied the Government was running down the Defence Force and becoming too distant from Australia on defence matters.