"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few," Royal New Zealand Air Force wing commander Darryl Cockroft said, quoting the late Sir Winston Churchill.
Much of the ceremony focused on the exceptional contribution of one particular Kiwi - the late Sir Keith Park.
"If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did," Lord Tedder once noted of Sir Keith.
"I do not believe it is realised what one man, with his leadership, his calm judgment and his skill, did to save not only this country but the world."
Sir Keith's grandniece Lesley Park and her granddaughter Helena Mossman both attended the Tauranga service. "Someone said to me a few years ago, he was the most famous New Zealander but the least well-known," Ms Park said.
Classic Flyers chairman David Love paid tribute to his friend Les Munro, the last Dambusters pilot, who was living in Tauranga until he passed away last month.
Mr Munro had left a significant sum of money to Classic Flyers that would help to continue to preserve aviation history, Mr Love said.
"I just wish to honour his memory here today."
Up to 200 people marched through Whangarei yesterday. The Royal New Zealand Air Force Association organised the street parade and memorial ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The association's Northland cadet liaison officer, David Reid, said there has not been a big parade in years in Northland to commemorate the battle and he was delighted with how yesterday went.
"It was a great way to honour all those who took part in the Battle of Britain. The cadets did a great job and I want to thank everybody who turned up to honour them," Mr Reid said.
The battle was the prime catalyst for the formation of Air Training Corps in the UK, with New Zealand following in 1941.
Mr Reid said the weather largely stayed away for the duration of the march, though there was a bit of rain.
The usual Sunday service at St Faith's Church in Ohinemutu included a special Rotorua Air Force Association Commemoration Service with readings from members of the association as well as the Air Training Corps.
The service happens every year and this year the theme was the Battle of Britain, which took place 75 years ago. "It's continuity of the tradition and remembrance," said Reverend Tom Poata. "It's a part of small community lives. It was nice to have the ATC participation, it suggests things will go on to that next generation, but the further we get from that event, the less in touch we are."
Jim Comber, who is president of the Rotorua Air Force Association, said aside from the weather the service went "very well". There was supposed to be a parade to the cenotaph at the end of the service but due to rain and the age of some of the members, they moved straight into the church hall.
"It's not the best of weather for some of the older people so we had the Last Post in the hall and then a cup a tea to talk about old times," Mr Comber said. Among the members were several who had served in World War II. The oldest member is John Bond, 99.
"We don't have a big organisation now as a lot of our members have passed away and sadly younger men leaving the forces don't always join. "We do thank St Faith's very much. We're almost privileged to be part of their service and have the Rev Tom Poata as our chaplain."
More than 100 people also attended a sepcial service at St Matthew's Church in Masterton yesterday.
Owing to the chilly rainy weather, a hoped-for flypast did not eventuate, but the audience were likely to be grateful for the warmth offered within the church.
Air Training Corps cadets from 21 Squadron (District of Masterton) provided the air force "blue" with commanding officer Flight Lieutenant Karen Stevens presenting the colours beside a brass plaque in the church commemorating a Battle of Britain service in 1956.
Principal speaker Tom Williams, president of the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society, related to the audience New Zealand's Battle of Britain heroes, including Air Vice Marshall Sir Keith Park and those from Wairarapa.
Reverend Ted Dashfield officiated the service, joined by organiser Barbara Anderson and choir director Hilda Payne.
Battle of Britain
• The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940.
• The battle was the first major campaign fought entirely by the air forces and was the largest and most sustained aerial bombing campaign to that date.
• By preventing Germany from gaining air superiority, the British forced Adolf Hitler to eventually cancel Operation Sea Lion, a planned amphibious and airborne invasion of Britain.
• Nazi Germany's failure to achieve its objective of destroying Britain's air defences is considered by historians to be the first major defeat in World War II and the crucial turning point in the war.
