A World War II veteran said it was good to see new cadets at the St Faith's Church service to mark the Battle of Britain and Air Forces Commemoration Day as they were a reminder of our past and they were also our future.
Rotorua paid tribute to the contribution of its airmen and women during the special church service.
The service was followed by a parade to the cenotaph at Ohinemutu's Muruika war cemetery this morning.
Rotorua was home to an airforce base in the 1940s during World War II and the suburb of Fenton Park was the original airfield.