The build-up
Auckland
Fifty-nine thousand metal discs carrying messages from the public are being used to build the biggest poppy in the world. The Giant Poppy Art Project takes place at Auckland Domain from Thursday until Anzac Day eve. The poppy will be created by the public. Those unable to make it can donate and have a disc placed on their behalf.
Anzac Commemorative lunchtime talks at the Central City Library on Wednesday, including how World War I affected a family who lost three of four sons at the Western Front, as told by Tina Blackman, who wrote a book about the family's loss.
Wellington
The World War I watercolours at Splash exhibition will open on Anzac Day eve at the Cathedral of St Paul in Wellington. It features 60 watercolours, prints and sketches created during World War I by artists with New Zealand connections who were on active service or who had been appointed official war artists.
Gallipoli: The Frontline Experience documentary, Nga Taonga Sound and Vision on Taranaki St between Wednesday and Saturday. Using diaries, letters, photographs and memoirs, acclaimed director, Tolga Ornek, traces the journeys of Australian, New Zealand, British and Turkish soldiers, from innocence and patriotism to hardship and heartbreak. Entry $6-$8.
World War I - A Contemporary Conversation at the National Library of New Zealand until October 3.
Michael Parekowhai: Remembering the Maori Battalion
at Te Papa until May 31.
Auckland and Wellington
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Spirit of Anzac, a tribute to the honour of the Anzacs that includes a symphony that sets to music soldiers' letters from the front. The first concert takes place at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, April 22; the second
at the Town Hall in Auckland on April 23.
Hamilton
Once on Chunuk Bair at Riverlea Theatre, Riverlea Rd, April 21-May 2. Tickets $15-$28
For Us They Fell exhibition on the men and women of Waikato in World War I at Waikato Museum on Grantham St from Anzac Day until November 11.
Tauranga
Anzac: Photographs by Laurence Aberhart at Tauranga Art Gallery until May 10. Aberhart has been photographing memorials in New Zealand and Australia for more than 30 years.
Palmerston North
Best-Ever-Anzac-Biscuit Baking Competition at Palmerston North Central Library from 2.30pm on April 22. Bring a sample of six for the competition.
Farewell Zealandia: Forgotten Kiwi Songs of World War I at Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, Main St, from Anzac Day to August 30.
Hastings
Write a letter to a Kiwi soldier, Hastings War Memorial Library, Civic Square, from 1.30pm on Wednesday.
First of the Few - Commemorating New Zealand's World War I pilots is an interactive Motat website to encourage the public to research and upload information about our war pilots.
On the day
Auckland
Auckland City Dawn Service at the Auckland Cenotaph on Domain Dr, from 5.30am. Civic service at 11am. Road closures and restricted parking. Public transport recommended.
![A soldier marches past the Cenotaph during the dawn service. Photo / Dean Purcell](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ZURFV6CNMWZHFSCDZ65L2DMWOU.jpg?auth=0eb4c3a8b2b7521d2eb7f9aea574b01be37005516bdd7a9c0a32b839e0b52339&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
Beachlands Parade, Service and displays, Beachlands School Hall, Wakelin Rd, from 9.15am. Includes a choir singing war-time favourites.
Papakura battle re-enactment and military display of vehicles, Papakura RSA, Elliot St, from 10am.
Lake House Arts Centre will hold The Peace Poppy Project, Hurstmere Green, Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, 10am-3pm. Make thousands of large poppies for display. Free
Hamilton
Hamilton Dawn Service and Parade, Hamilton Cenotaph, Memorial Dr, from 6am.
War Horse Memorial March, Waikato Equestrian Centre, from 11am.
Wellington
Wellington Citizens Wreath-laying Service at the Cenotaph, 9am.
National Service of Commemoration, 11am.
Ataturk Service at Tarakena Bay, Strathmore, 2pm.
Dawn Service from Gallipoli live on big screens at Pukeahu, 2.30pm
Westpac Stadium: 1pm, Anzac Day Aussie rules , St Kilda v Carlton Blues.
11am, 2pm and 3.30pm, guided walks of graves of ex-Gallipoli veterans buried at Karori Cemetery.
Elsewhere
Dawn parades will be held in Whangarei, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Taupo, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Whanganui.
![One month old Jacob Birley displays his great grandfathers medals at a service in Mt Maunganui. Photo / Alan Gibson](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/UYK7QO2QSW3Z3GFKV4JXG7MTYA.jpg?auth=13f4b691559d4236641a4c2d16e9a3592951653b492e145e5984e71448d546d7&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
At Hurunui in Canterbury, 100 horsemen in full uniform will march. Horses and riders will assemble from 5.30am to walk out in formation in front of the Memorial at the Peaks Hall for the 6am service. After the service they will ride 20km to the Waikari Anzac Day service.
In Timaru, 1500 crosses will be revealed in the South Canterbury Field of Remembrance, signifying the men and women from the region who died in World War I.
Click here to see the full list of Anzac ceremonies
TV highlights
![Poppies and flowers on the Cenotaph. Photo / Brett Phibbs](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XGFJVDLHKNZF7OC7PLHUYPIPZU.jpg?auth=4ab8cf33442d9acad474121bd53d767aa147e641e0ff1a24047cb58e4c4314cb&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
TV One
Coverage from 6am includes live footage of the Dawn Parade in Wellington, Anzac documentaries and the National Commemorative Service live from Wellington. Broad¬caster Wendy Petrie is in Gallipoli throughout the day. Descent from Disaster - A Gallipoli Special, an Anzac-themed Country Calendar and the movie War Horse screen in the evening.
TV3
A six-hour
The Nation
-3 News Anzac Special begins at 6am and includes live coverage of the Dawn Service in Auckland and an interview with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae. Live footage of the Anzac Cove Memorial Service at Gallipoli from 2.30pm.
Maori TV
Schedule not yet available. Anzac Day coverage and special programming from 5.50am. Includes a live broadcast of the Anzac Cove service at 2.30pm and the Chunuk Bair service at 10.45pm.
The network's day of remembrance will include Cameron Bennett's documentary, Echoes of Gallipoli, featuring archive interviews of battle veterans.
Gallipoli service
• 10,500 people will attend the Dawn Service at Gallipoli
• 2000 attendees will be New Zealanders
• 450 tour buses are expected to arrive on the peninsula on April 24
• 10km the distance attendees should expect to walk throughout Anzac commemorations
• 200 international media have been accredited to cover the ceremony
Gallipoli Campaign in numbers
• 70,000 men served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
• 11,000 New Zealanders and Australians lost their lives. Intended for the Western Front, the newly-formed Anzacs were diverted from their training in Egypt to join
the campaign.
• 31 Commonwealth cemeteries were established in the 1920s, with marble markers replacing makeshift crosses. Eight gardeners and six masons from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain them.
• 35,000 Britons died. They came from all corners of the British Isles. The bodies of 20,763 were never recovered. Their names are recorded at the Helles Memorial which looks out over the water where many of them fell.
• 86,000 Turkish troops died, but the campaign is still celebrated as a glorious victory.