Stand Apart Together This Anzac Day
Media
release Saturday 18 April Stand apart together
this Anzac Day In response to Covid-19, there will be
no public events to commemorate Anzac Day this Saturday 25
April – instead the nation will mark the anniversary by
standing together apart with virtual services and online
events. This year's Anzac Day will start with a
virtual dawn service, where New Zealanders are being asked
to stand in their bubble to commemorate those who have
served their country – whether that be in a living room,
the driveway, or at the front door. The most important
thing about Anzac Day is the tradition of remembering, says
Mayor Andy Foster. “For the first time since
services began in 1916, nationwide events to remember and
honour New Zealanders in conflict and peacekeeping won’t
be held in a public forum – it will be more of a private
affair this year. “Just by standing and remembering,
we can honour the sacrifices our servicemen and women have
made – and still make – as they do their duty and serve
New Zealand. Stay home, stay safe.” The official
dawn service starts at 6am on Saturday 25 April. It will be
broadcast on Radio NZ National (AM & FM frequencies), listen live on the internet or
on your phone (download app
here). The morning service includes the Last Post,
National Anthems, and an address by Hon. Ron Mark, Minister
of Defence / Minister for Veterans. There will also be
a special Anzac Day programme at 11am on TVNZ 1 or TVNZ On
Demand. The poppy will be at the heart of New Zealand
community responses, as Kiwis are also being encouraged to
acknowledge Anzac Day with a show of support in the form of
poppy displays on letterboxes or in windows. Gisella
Carr, Manager of Arts, Culture & Community Services says
New Zealanders in their thousands choose each year to find
meaning in Anzac Day, and households may want to think about
how to do this from their bubbles. “You can make
poppies at home and display them for your community, lay a
virtual poppy at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, or take a
moment to read the WWI poem which made the poppy famous,
‘In Flanders Field’ by Lieutenant-Colonel John
McCrae.” “Other Anzac Day experiences will include
the live-stream of Neil Ieremia’s Passchendale, a
collaboration of the Royal New Zealand Ballet with the New
Zealand Army Band, commissioned for the Gallipoli Centenary
2015. We will also be lighting the Michael Fowler Centre red
to honour Anzac Day “And of course in a city famous
for its foodie culture, Wellingtonians may also want to bake
Anzac biscuits with their whānau.” The gates to
Karori and Makara Cemetery will remain closed for the
duration, so there will only be pedestrian access. We
understand this may be upsetting for some, but this is in
response to large numbers driving to and gathering at the
cemeteries, breaching current Covid-19 alert level
guidelines.