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Anzac Day programming on Radio New Zealand

5:45 Dawn Service of Remembrance

The Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance from The Cenotaph, Wellington

10:00 Anzac Day Remembrance

A pause to honour those who served have and fallen in war.

Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw

8:40 Dr Peter Pedersen -  ANZAC stories

Senior historian at the Australian War Memorial, Dr Pedersen talks to Chris about the ANZAC relationship. He’s recently produced a book that contains reproductions of maps, diary entries, official reports and telegrams which he uses to tell the stories of ANZAC soldiers in all the major conflicts of the 20th century.
‘ANZACS at War: From Gallipoli to the Present Day’ is  published by Allen and Unwin.

9:45 Matthew Wright - In Occupied Territory

Historian Matthew Wright has edited a collection of stories told by Kiwi solders fighting behind enemy lines during the Second World War. Most were escaped prisoners of war, but some deliberately went into occupied territory to join resistance movements.
‘Behind Enemy Lines: Kiwi Freedom Fighters in World War Two’ is published by Random House.

11:05 Ideas

Ideas reflects on the ethics of war in the 21st Century.

3:04 The Sunday Drama: Kikia Te Poa, by Matthew Saville

A drama of rugby and war - following the journey of two young men during the Boer war at the start of the 20th Century. One is a part Maori soldier, one Boer prisoner of war. What they find about each other surprises them. What similarities they have surprises them more! The two debate about ‘Home’ and ‘Rights’, ‘Love and commitment’ – all of this then comes to a head in a rugby game to decide who is right and who is wrong (RNZ)

4:06 4 ‘til 8 with Katrina Batten

The winning speech by Meaghan Li in the National Bank Cyril Bassett VC Speech competition themed 'New Zealanders at War'.

Meaghan received a trip to Gallipoli as a guest of The Royal New Zealand RSA on the official New Zealand delegation for the ANZAC Commemorations; $1,000 spending money; a laptop and a digital camera to record the experience; and a winner’s trophy to be displayed at their school for a year and a smaller trophy for the winner to retain.

6:06 Te Ahi Kaa

Maraea Rakuraku takes a look at the role of war through generations of a Taihape whanau.

8:06 Sounds Historical with Jim Sullivan

Wartime music and memories and Trevor Morely talks about unsung heroes.

Anzac Day related audio

WW1 Cross found

Somehow a very special cross for a fallen World War one soldier was forgotten in a Lumsden Church.
from Afternoons 21 Apr 2010 (duration: 9′40″)

Fallen Wairarapa Soldiers

The reality of World War I has come to life for year 12 students at Wairarapa College in Masterton. The students have taken names from the 1923 Wairarapa Soldiers' Memorial in Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, and are researching the personal history of the fallen soldiers.
from Afternoons 22 Apr 2010 (duration: 9′37″)

Shelley Hirini

May 2nd 1940. The British troop ship Aquitania left the Pipitea wharf in Wellington with most of the 28th Maori Battalion on board. Among the men who left that day was a composer who would write one of New Zealand's first hit pop song. Blue Smoke is a song about separation and hope. And the blue smoke that trailed from the ship's funnel as he steamed off to War. It was written by Ru Karaitiana (Cry Tee Ahna), a member of the Maori battalion. Now the song will be re-released on ANZAC day by Shelley Hirini. You may remember Shelley from the Wellington Band Pearl. The song begins by paying homage to the original recording
from Afternoons 23 Apr 2010 (duration: 7′56″)

Ashley Ekins: ANZAC writings

Head of the Military History Section at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra who contributed the introduction to the third edition of The ANZAC Book, originally published in 1916.
from Saturday Morning 24 Apr 2010 (duration: 33′02″)

ANZACS at War - Peter Pedersen

War historian Peter Pedersen has recently produced a book that sets out to trace the overlapping stories of Australian and New Zealand soldiery from the beginning right up to the present. His book 'ANZACS at War: From Gallipoli to the Present Day' is published by Allen and Unwin.
from Sunday Morning 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 19′32″)

Matthew Wright

Historian Matthew Wright is a prolific author on military issues.
from Sunday Morning 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 15′41″)

ANZAC Speech Winner - Meaghan Li

Meaghan Li (aged 17) of Macleans College, in Manukau City. (As part of her prize - Meaghan has travelled to Gallipoli as an RSA representative on the official New Zealand delegation to Turkey for the 95th Commemoration of the Anzac Landings at Gallipoli. And she receives a camera and Laptop to record the experience)
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 7′27″)

ANZAC Speech Sarah Liley

Sarah Liley from Dunstan High School in Alexandra representing Otago and Southland District.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 8′07″)

ANZAC Speech Claire Gourley

Claire Gourley from Bethlehem College in Tauranga representing King Country and Bay Of Plenty.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 8′14″)

ANZAC Speech James Rance - VC

James Rance from Ashburton College representing Canterbury region.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 6′07″)

ANZAC Speech Rachelle Cox

Rachelle Cox from Bream Bay College in Ruakaka representing Northland Region.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 7′32″)

ANZAC Speech Paige Muggeridge

Paige Muggeridge from New Plymouth Girls' High School representing Wellington/West Coast/Taranaki District.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 8′24″)

ANZAC Speech Cameron Price

Cameron Price from Napier Boys High School representing Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, East Coast District.
from 25 Apr 2010 (duration: 8′16″)

Dawn services have taken place around New Zealand at the start of Anzac Day.

It's 95 years since the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli, in Turkey, on 25 April, 1915.

More than 2700 New Zealand troops died during the eight-month campaign.

Thousands of people of all ages are expected at services around New Zealand during the day.

Prime Minister John Key is in Gallipoli for the commemorations there.

Auckland commemorations began with a dawn service at the Cenotaph Court of Honour in front of the War Memorial Museum.

Police estimated up to 15,000 people were gathered, including a large number of young people.

Many families who attended the service, said they felt it is important for their children to remember history and the sacrifices made for the next generation.

In the capital, an estimated 3000 people attended the dawn service at the Cenotaph in Wellington.

A single cannon shot heralded the beginning of the ceremony.

A Citizen's Service of Commemoration will be held at St Paul's Cathedral in Thorndon later in the day.

A vigil from dawn to dusk is being observed by personnel from the armed forces at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

In Christchurch, a march left at 6.15am from the Heritage Hotel heading to the Cenotaph in Cathedral Square.

Dunedin also remembered its fallen at a dawn ceremony at the Cenotaph in Queens Gardens.

Resurgence noted

The Returned & Services Assocation said record numbers were expected in towns big and small around New Zealand.

Chief executive Stephen Clarke said there has been a resurgence of people attending services to pay their respects.

More than 1000 people attended a service at the cenotaph in Anzac Park, Nelson.

Veterans from World War II and the Korean War, and the Malaya and Vietnam campaigns took part.

Attendance at the Cenotaph in New Plymouth was noticeably larger than last year - about 2000 people.

New Plymouth RSA immediate-past president Graeme Lowe said the numbers had been boosted by better education about New Zealand's war history and Anzac Day coverage by Maori Television.

The community of Portobello in Dunedin has held its first ANZAC service in more than 50 years.

About 150 people attended the service at the Portobello museum, where a sandstone monument honouring seven Portobello men who died in World War II, was unveiled. All are buried overseas.

Another plaque is to be added to the memorial, honouring Portobello servicemen who died in World War I.

Gallipolli volunteers

Dozens of New Zealand volunteers are at Gallipolli to distribute information and help people with disabilities.

One of them is Hilda Davidson of Auckland, who is following in the footsteps of two great uncles who joined the Auckland Mounted Rifles and died at Gallipoli on the same day.

She says it is a very moving experience to be part of the commemorations which left a mark on so many families.

Flags signify Anzac spirit

The Australian national flag is flying alongside New Zealand's on the Auckland harbour bridge on Sunday for the first time.

Two New Zealand flags fly on the bridge every day of the year and the only other exception is Waitangi Day when the Maori flag flies alongside them.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says having the Australian and New Zealand flags flying together on Sunday is a fitting tribute to the special relationship between the two countries born of the Anzac spirit.

Further details on all Anzac services nationwide are available at www.rsa.org.nz.

During Anzac Day Radio New Zealand National will broadcast speeches by the Regional Winners and the overall winner of The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition (Honoring New Zealand’s only Gallipoli Victoria Cross recipient) featuring eight year 12 and 13 students representing eight regions around the country.

The winner was Meaghan Li (aged 17) of Macleans College, in Manukau City.

Other finalists:  

• James Rance  from Ashburton College representing Canterbury region.
• Claire Gourley from Bethlehem College in Tauranga representing King Country/Bay Of Plenty.
• Cameron Price from Napier Boys High School representing Wairarapa/Hawkes Bay/East Coast District.
• Paige Muggeridge from New Plymouth Girls’ High School representing Wellington/West Coast/Taranaki District.
• Rachelle  Cox from Bream Bay College in Ruakaka representing Northland Region.
• Sarah Liley  from Dunstan High School in Alexandra representing Otago/Southland District.
• Siimon Bush from Marlborough Boy’s College representing Nelson, Marlborough and Westland.