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From a dawn gathering to a morning bathed in bright sunshine, hundreds of people gathered to honour and remember the fallen at Anzac Day events on April 25.
At dawn, large crowds gathered at the Alamar Crescent service, hosted by Vietnam veteran Dave Chisholm and attended by Kaipara District Council Mayor Jonathan Larsen, along with current and former servicemen and women.
In his mayoral address, Larsen spoke about the price paid by those who went to war and how the Anzac spirit lives on in rural communities.
“Today, we stand in quiet reflection, joined not only by place, but by purpose. We honour those who served, those who sacrificed, and those who never returned. We remember the courage shown on distant shores, beginning at Gallipoli and carried through every conflict since. But Anzac Day is not only about history, it is also about the values that endure,” Larsen said.
“In districts like Kaipara, those values are not abstract. They live on in our communities – in the way we support one another, in the quiet strength of rural towns, and in the respect we show for those who came before us.”
Later in the day, a large, multi-generational crowd gathered at Hakaru RSA, where hushed silence descended as bagpipes played and the procession began. Lining the path to the cenotaph were members of the armed forces, the volunteer fire brigade, returned servicemen and women, and representatives from schools across the district, who laid wreaths during the ceremony.
Guest speaker, Warrant Officer Aaron Taylor of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, (RNZAF) delivered a poignant speech on the importance of remembering those who served and gave their lives.
“From Gallipoli to Afghanistan, the men and women of the New Zealand armed forces have served our country. Each Anzac Day, we gather to honour them, especially those who gave their lives for our nation. Defending freedom has always carried a cost. Anzac Day is a special day in which we remember that cost,” Taylor said.
Taylor also spoke about Bright Ernest Williams, who died at the age of 105 in 2003 and was the last New Zealand veteran of World War I, highlighting the importance of remembering those who fought for freedom.
“There is now only a tiny fraction of the New Zealanders who served in the Armed Forces during World War II still with us. These men and women provide a living link to the sacrifices and struggles of that conflict,” he said.
“We will continue to honour and remember them, as we do with WWI veterans, long after they are gone.”
With military conflict continuing around the globe, Taylor urged people to reflect on the tragedy of war and stand in unity for a peaceful future.
“We now live in a world in which our values are under attack, in a way not seen since before WWII. At such a time, it is more important than ever to remember those who served and sacrificed for New Zealand in war. It is also time to reaffirm our commitment to what New Zealand and New Zealanders stand for – democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.”
Correction
In a previous version of this article, Lieutenant Karolis of the Australian Army was incorrectly identified as the guest speaker at the Hakaru RSA service. Warrant Officer Aaron Taylor of the RNZAF was the guest speaker, while Lieutenant Karolis was the MC. Mangawhai Focus apologises for the error.
