Anzac Day service switches to events centre

ON PARADE: Due to high public demand, Rotorua's Anzac Day Civic Service will be held at the Energy Events Centre this year. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua's Anzac Day civic service has been moved to the Energy Events Centre due to growing interest from locals.

City mayor Steve Chadwick will host this year's service at the new location on Friday next week.

The day events start with the traditional dawn parade at Ohinemutu from 5.45am.

Mrs Chadwick is extending an open invitation to residents as well as visitors to the city to join her in honouring New Zealand's servicemen and women.

The civic service, commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings by New Zealand and Australian combined military forces, will be held in the Energy Event Centre's Unison Arena from 9.30am.

The key address will be given by the Rev Tom Poata. Father Mark Field will be the officiating minister.

Mrs Chadwick said the service was being moved from the convention centre to the larger venue to accommodate growing community interest in Anzac Day and as a lead-in to next year's highly significant 100th anniversary.

"Numbers have been increasing over the years as more and more people choose to acknowledge the heroic efforts of our New Zealand and Australian forces," she said.

"As this year's event falls on a holiday weekend, we anticipate there'll be substantial interest from out-of-town visitors as well.

"It's an important opportunity for locals and visitors to honour the brave servicemen and women to whom we are indebted for the lifestyle and privileges we're able to enjoy in this country today."

The Anzac Day service will open with a ballad by local singer Evelyn Falconer.

Events & Venues staff member Ray Philpot will perform a guitar solo during the service, with jazz quartet Finely Tuned concluding proceedings.

The Rotorua Brass and the City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band will provide music to hymns throughout the service.

Service personnel, school parties, cadet corps, local community groups, and 300 St John youth officers, who are in Rotorua for the national St John's Youth Festival, will assemble at the intersection of Whakaue and Fenton streets, near the Village Green, at 8.50am.

The parade will march through the Government Gardens at 9am, arriving at the Energy Events Centre at 9.20am in time for the 9.30am Civic Memorial Service.

Memorial Drive by the lake will be closed from 8am to 10am.

People driving to the Energy Events Centre are encouraged to avoid the Prince's Gate entrance to the Government Gardens and enter at the Polynesian Spa and take the road behind the museum and Energy Events Centre.