A whistle blast marked the start of the 11am ANZAC Parade held at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA in Whangaparaoa.
The sound was chosen because it was the signal given to soldiers in the trenches of WW1 to go “over the top” and into battle.
The parade, on April 25, is one of the largest in the area with hundreds of people watching the march past of veterans and current members of the armed forces.
Young people swelled the ranks, with readings given by Whangaparaoa College students and many local schools also laying wreaths.
In his first official duty as Minister of Defence, Rodney MP Mark Mitchell had laid a wreath at the cenotaph during the dawn service.
The service included prayers, the singing of the Australian and NZ national anthems, and the lowering of the flag as The Last Post was played by bugler Kerry Robertson.
