Wellingtonians – plan for Anzac events

Anzac Day services and the commemoration parade, the day before, will disrupt travel around and through Wellington’s CBD next Friday and Saturday. We are expecting big crowds and therefore people going to these events are asked to plan ahead, allow extra time for travel and get there early to avoid disappointment.

Wellington Anzac Street Parade

A week from today, Wellington’s streets will be filled with a spectacular procession of World War 1 vintage machinery and personnel, as the centenary parade commemorating the Anzac Gallipoli landings weaves its way from Parliament to the new Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, situated at Buckle Street, between Tory and Taranaki Streets.

Wellington City Council’s World War 1 Commemorations Project Manager, Dilys Grant, says the parade begins at Parliament grounds at 12.30pm and will take around two hours to make its way through the CBD to Memorial Park.

“We are asking people, if they can, to leave their cars at home on Friday and take public transport or walk to work instead. Also, those going to the National War Memorial Park should allow extra time to get there or walk.

“People going away for the long weekend, and who plan on traveling through the CBD should think about leaving town before the parade times or they may find themselves stuck in traffic.

“The waterfront Quays will remain open and will be the best route across the city if you are leaving town or are travelling to the airport, hospital or between the eastern, southern and northern suburbs,” says Grant.

Buses will be working on a reduced timetable between 10am and 4.30pm and some bus services will be rerouted.Details of these service disruptions will be available from Metlink at www.metlink.org.nz and by phoning 0800 801 700. School bus services will run as normal but may be delayed due to traffic.

Anzac Day Events

Thousands of people are expected to go to the commemoration services and events being held at the new Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on Anzac Day.

If you are planning on attending the dawn service or any of events at the park you will need to plan ahead and aim to get there early, especially if you want a good view of the ceremony.

“There will be a limited amount of street parking surrounding Pukeahu National War Memorial,” says Grant. “All Wellington City Council, Wilson, Carepark and Tournament car parking facilities will be open and if you are planning to drive please allow extra time to walk from your car, and expect delays due to road closures. People should make sure they don’t leave any important items in their car while attending the services, especially if they park on a street.”

“Limited train services and shuttles between Wellington Station and Pukeahu National War Memorial Park are being put on for the Dawn Service. Details are available from Metlink’s website or by phoning them.”

WELLINGTON ANZAC STREET PARADE

On Friday 24 April, the Wellington Anzac Street parade will mean a series of transport disruptions, including traffic delays, road closures, removal of parking and changes to public transport.

If you are planning to attend the parade, or travel through the CBD between 10am and 4.30pm, please plan your travel in advance and allow extra time.

Road closures

The parade route along Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Wakefield Street and Taranaki Street will close these roads and the surrounding side streets between 11am and 3pm. There will be no parking on these streets from 2am on Friday the 24th.

Travel by car

The waterfront Quays will remain open and will be the best route across the city if you are leaving town for the long weekend or travelling to the airport, hospital or between the eastern, southern and northern suburbs. Plan ahead, expect delays throughout the day and allow extra time for travel.

Bus

Between 10am and 4.30pm regular bus timetables will be reduced and some bus services will be rerouted. Details of these service disruptions will be available from Metlink at www.metlink.org.nz and by phoning 0800 801 700. School bus services will run as normal but expect be delays due to traffic congestion.

WELLINGTON ANZAC DAY EVENTS

5.30am Dawn Service

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

9am Wellington Citizens
Wreath Laying Service

Wellington Cenotaph

11am National Service of Commemoration
Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

1.10pm AFL St Kilda Saints vs Carlton Blues

Westpac Stadium

2pm Atatürk Memorial Service

Atatürk Memorial, Tarakena Bay

2.30pm Live broadcast of Gallipoli Dawn Service

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

5.15pm Ceremony of Beating Retreat

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

7pm–10pm WWI Remembered:

A Light and Sound Show

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

TRANSPORT OPTIONS
Anzac Day, Saturday 25 April 2015

Watch at home

If you would prefer to stay home, both the Dawn Service and the National Anzac Day Service will be broadcast live on TV One and Radio New Zealand. Maori Television also has a full day of Anzac Day programming. There will also be local parades in some communities that you can support.

Road closures

The following roads will be closed from 1am to 2pm, which will cause traffic delays.

• Tory Street from Vivian Street to Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

• Tasman Street from Rugby Street to Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

• Taranaki Street from Vivian Street to Webb Street (including side streets)

• Karo Drive (State Highway 1) from Taranaki Street to Cuba Street

• Abel Smith St from Taranaki Street to Cuba Street

• Arras Tunnel (State Highway 1)

Public transport

Limited special train services will run from Upper Hutt, Waikanae and Johnsonville for the Dawn Service and shuttles will be provided between Wellington Station and Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. People are encouraged to walk from the station along the waterfront and up Taranaki Street – walking time is about 30 minutes.

There are no special bus services from Wellington City for the Dawn Service but extra capacity will be provided on regular bus services to get people to and from the 11am national commemoration service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

Details are available from Metlink at www.metlink.org.nz and by phoning 0800 801 700.

Parking

There will be a limited amount of on-street parking surrounding Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. All Wellington City Council, Wilson, Carepark and Tournament car parking facilities will be open.
If you are planning to drive please allow extra time to walk from your car, and expect delays due to road closures.

Mobility Access

If you have a mobility pass you and your carer may enter Tory Street from Vivian Street and park in the Wilsons carpark by the Tory Street Warehouse. There will be people movers operating to take you to the park from this point.

For further information on Anzac Week events and transport disruptions please visit
wellington.govt.nz/ww100 or call the Anzac Week hotline 0800 001 726 or Wellington City Council on 04 499 4444.

For real time travel updates on Friday 24 April visit @NZTAWgtn on Twitter or www.tfw.govt.nz

ENDS

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