Rotorua's Anzac Day services: Big crowd expected

Will again take place from 5.45am at Muruika war cemetery at Ohinemutu. The Civic Service will begin at 9.30am at the Energy Events Centre.

Anzac Day this Saturday marks New Zealand's first major engagement of WWI at Gallipoli in Turkey.

While it was a terrible defeat, it has become a legend of sacrifice and this year marks 100 years since New Zealand soldiers landed at Anzac Cove.

Organisers of the dawn parade at Ohinemutu, Te Arawa Maori Returned Services League, are expecting a much bigger crowd than usual and have set up a big screen and speakers so those who cannot fit into the small space around Muruika war cemetery can see and hear the proceedings.

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The guest speaker is Rotorua's Major Pita (Peter) Anaru, retired. The Civic Service will be hosted by mayor Steve Chadwick with Reverend Tom Poata the officiating minister. This year's guest speakers are students Montana Mareroa, from Rotorua Girls' High School, and Rawiri Manly from Rotorua Boys' High School.

Seating capacity for the service has been increased to 3000.

The Rotorua Museum will open at 7am, giving visitors the opportunity to write messages on poppies which will be added to the museum's Anzac remembrance displays.

More than 1500 poppies made by the Rotorua community and the Rotorua Yarnbombers have been made into a dramatic memorial banner which will be on display in the museum and a moving 28th Maori Battalion film will show every 30 minutes.

Memorial Dr at the lakefront will be closed from 8am to 10am on Saturday. People driving to the Energy Events Centre are encouraged to avoid the Prince's Gate entrance to Government Gardens and instead enter past Polynesian Spa and take the road behind the museum and Energy Events Centre, or arrive before 9am.

Public buses will be free on Saturday until 12pm on all CityRide routes in Rotorua and a shuttle will take people from the Pukuatua St bus stop, around a loop that includes the lakefront and Energy Events Centre, returning to Pukuatua St.

A Field of Remembrance bearing crosses to commemorate Rotorua men who died as a result of WWI will be installed next to the cenotaph in the Government Gardens ahead of Anzac Day.

The 103 white crosses making up the field will be consecrated during a ceremony from 5pm tomorrow and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Services

Dawn Ceremony

Where: Ohinemutu

When: Saturday, 5.45am

Civic Parade

Starts: Corner Whakaue and Fenton streets, 9am

Ends: Energy Events Centre, 9.20am

Civic Memorial Service

Where: Energy Events Centre

When: 9.30am