Key Notes: Standing together on Anzac Day

Tomorrow I join the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who each year commemorate Anzac Day across our country and at Gallipoli.

I will attend the dawn service in Wellington and later in the day the national commemorative service on the forecourt at Parliament, while work continues at a pace on building the National War Memorial Park for the Gallipoli centenary next year.

Anzac Day is a time to reflect and pay tribute to our Australia New Zealand Army Corps veterans. It is a time to stand together and remember the more than 2700 New Zealanders who lost their lives serving as part of the force that landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

It is also a day to remember those who have served in conflicts since then. Every day, brave men and women strive to uphold democracy, preserve peace, and provide aid and support to people around the world.

The number of people attending Anzac Day celebrations is increasing and this shows the importance New Zealanders attach to our history, and the respect we continue to have for such occasions.

National is building a safer New Zealand with a comprehensive programme of reforms which over the past four years have seen recorded crime drop 20 per cent.

Latest data shows that since our new alcohol laws around trading hours and Police powers came in at the end of last year, they've had an immediate effect. Over a 10-week period between 19 December 2013 and 26 February 2014 we saw a 22 per cent drop in serious assault and public disorder offences between 8pm and 8am, compared to the same period the previous year.

Finally, this weekend I'm heading to Masterton for the first in a series of National Party regional conferences. It will be great to catch up with all our hard-working, loyal MPs and supporters at the Lower North Island party conference.

Sincerely,

John Key
Prime Minister

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