Anzac Day services to remember those who landed and fought in Gallipoli, and those who have served in conflicts in the century since, will be held across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale will deliver the welcome at the city’s civic memorial service.
“On Anzac Day, communities around New Zealand come together to honour those who served, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and acknowledge the contributions of our returned and current service personnel,” Drysdale said.
“I encourage everyone to attend a service and pay tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.”
Tauranga RSA will host its final dawn service before relocating later this year. It has been hosting dawn services at its current location since 2009.
This year’s event will feature a special address and participation from HMNZS Te Mana and the New Zealand Defence Force’s Hauraki unit.
Navy veteran and Tauranga RSA president Morton Anderson said the dawn service would be a significant moment of remembrance.
Some of the team at the Tauranga RSA standing in front of the Tauranga RSA Cenotaph on the Cameron Road site.
“It’s important to keep the memory alive, to pay respects to those who served and those who never made it home,” Anderson said.
“These events are not just about remembering history, they’re about ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made.”
Katikati RSA president and Vietnam veteran Trevor Gilbert said this year was particularly poignant as it had been 110 years since the Gallipoli landing and 80 years since the end of WWII.
“Lest we forget,” Gilbert said. “It’s important to honour those who have served as there are many of us, not just the two World Wars, there’s been many conflicts since the end of World War II.
“You make friends for life with those who served. We’ve experienced some tough situations – you form a bond that is never broken.”
