Memories stir at haunting Auckland ceremony

The vast crowd that turned out at the Cenotaph in Auckland this morning. Photo / Greg Bowker

A mild autumn morning drew the very young to the very old to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for today's dawn service.

A crowd of about 12,000 attended the service, well up from the 8000 who braved pelting rain the year before.

Organiser Des Harrison said the perfect weather today meant people with babies and the elderly in wheelchairs were able to take part.

But even then, the early morning start was too much for a few.

One young soldier fainted in the crowd, and a woman also briefly passed out just moments later.

Among those gathered around the cenotaph were the family of Malaya veteran Sidney Maguire who died at the service a year ago.

His wife Mei said today was a melancholy morning for her, in which she could absorb the previous year.

Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard made special mention of Mr Maguire and the "she'll be right mate" resilience of New Zealanders.

Mr Hubbard said the service was not about glorifying war but about the courage of those who put their lives on the line.