Auckland Anzac Day services to merge for safety

Tuesday, 9 April 2019, 11:09 am
Article: RNZ

A number of Auckland's Anzac Day services will not happen this year and will instead be merged with larger events around the city after consultation with police on security.

Image: Auckland War Memorial Museum - Auckland War Memorial Museum commemorates Anzac Day 2018

Armed police will be patrolling events and are working on security arrangements with RSAs and local councils.

RSA Auckland branch president Graham Gibson says there will be fewer services than the 84 services they had last year.

"We're still working through it, so I don't want to pre-empt anything.

"This is the greater area of Auckland and there's a lot of services so we're working through those very hard, we have been for the last seven days going through having consultation meetings and all that to work out what is the best and how it can be done."

Mr Gibson said they would announce where the services are tomorrow.

Similar consolidated services are likely around the country.

Police have been providing an increased security presence since the 15 March attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.

Police assistant commissioner Mike Rusbatch has previously said there was no specific threat at Anzac Day services, but they would be providing a visible presence nationwide to reassure the public.

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