Anzac Day: Communities, big and small, prepare to remember sacrifices made

Large cities and small towns are preparing for Anzac Day services tomorrow, after three years of Covid-19 disruptions.

A dawn service will also return to Christchurch's Cathedral Square for the first time since the 2011 earthquake.

There are more than 31,000 New Zealand veterans, aged from 19 to over 100, with many expected to take part in services across the country to commemorate the landing of the Anzac troops at Gallipoli in 1915.

Retired Major General Martyn Dunne, chairman of the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association, told Morning Report big crowds were expected following Covid-19.

"I think last year we had a bit of a practice run where things weren't quite as severe but this year we're pretty much free of most restrictions so I would suspect that things would have warmed up.

"The weather forecast looks good and I think we will have a good turnout across the country, certainly at dawn services."

Dunne said Anzac Day was a time for people to stop and reflect on the sacrifice veterans made in previous wars, mainly World War I and World War II, but also more recent conflicts, such as Afghanistan.

Dunne said Anzac Day was "very much" sculpted into the national psyche and an opportunity for people to think about the history of their own families.

Christchurch Memorial RSA president Dennis Mardle told Morning Report the layout for the dawn service in Christchurch would be different to how it had been before the 2011 earthquake.

It would take place near the newly restored Citizens War Memorial, and follow a traditional veterans parade up Worcester Boulevard to Cathedral Square.

Given it was the first since the earthquakes, Mardle was anticipating a large crowd.

"I think a lot of people will want to turn out for that."

Mardle said the number of veterans who were still alive who had served in the world wars was dwindling.

But it was "heartening" to see the younger generations of ex-servicemen and women come out and feel more comfortable to be classified as veterans and to remember their comrades on Anzac Day.

Mardle said if the weather tomorrow was anything like today, it would be "fantastic".

Small towns suffered from world wars

Hundreds of small towns and communities around New Zealand are putting the final touches on Anzac Day events for tomorrow.

While the big events in large towns and cities attract attention, it was small communities who suffered some of the biggest losses in both world wars.

Veteran and organiser of the Pāpāmoa Beach dawn service Buddy Mikaere told Morning Report it was the second year the event had be held at the beach.

Mikaere said organisers tried to involve the community as much as possible - and there had been an "excellent" response in the past.

"I think it's a reflection of the growing importance that these community events have and it's a way of not only remembering what happened and those people who sacrificed their lives for us but also it's a way of pulling the community together in a joint remembrance.

"It's something which we can all do together. We have this perfect setting right on the beach, which is reminiscent of the beach at Gallipoli, I suppose."

Mikaere said small towns in New Zealand suffered greatly from the loss of men in the world wars, more so the Māori population.

"From experience with the Māori population in particular, you lost a generation of leaders and it took some time for that situation to right itself."