Guest speaker was the Reverend Tom Poata who said New Zealanders needed to change some of their attitudes if they wanted to live up to and respect the memory of those who died to give us all freedom.
"Because of men like those ... we owe them a duty.
"We may gather as often as we want and behave as solemnly as we think befits, but it is what we do for the other 364 days of life in these islands that really matters.
"The concern is for our civil services and those who are here to uphold the law and respond to emergencies are increasingly being asked to don armour and carry weapons ... is a part of our modern Gallipoli.
"That our police should require body armour and that our St John volunteers and personnel should fear for their safety ... is totally anathema to the spirit of Gallipoli," he said.
Before the service a parade of veterans, service men and women, cadets, police, and about 300 St John cadets who were in Rotorua for their National Youth Festival, marched down Memorial Drive and up Fenton St before heading into the Government Gardens.
The parade, lead by Captain Roly Rolston (retired), stopped in front of the cenotaph to lay two wreaths before continuing on to the events centre.
- Matthew Martin
