by hoki quilts, Hokitika

ANZAC Day Dawn Services are being held around New Zealand  to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.

A tribute to the fallen at the Dawn Service in North Hagley Park, Christchurch.

PHOTO: Radio NZ

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Hamilton was the first: the service there began at 5.40am at the Cenotaph in Soldiers Memorial Park.
Five minutes later, the Wellington Dawn Ceremony of Remembrance began at the Cenotaph.
Turkish ambassador to New Zealand, Ali Yakital, told those gathered that he is filled with special emotion for being part of the Dawn Service marking the 96th anniversary of the battle of Gallipoli.
He said great mutual respect has grown out of the horrors of war.
About 3000 people attended the service.
A vigil by personnel from the three services is now underway at the National War Memorial from 6am - 5pm.
In Auckland, the parade to the Cenotaph at Auckland Museum began at 5.45am and the Dawn Service followed at 6am.
Despite heavy rain, several thousand people turned out at the War Memorial museum. The numbers attending the service were as high as last year.
In Dunedin, the service gets underway at 6.30am at Queens Gardens.
In Christchurch, the Dawn Service at North Hagley Park began at 7am.

The cenotaph in North Hagley Park, Christchurch.

PHOTO: Radio NZ

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RSA president Russ Barron says that as far as he is aware, it was the first time the service has not been held in Cathedral Square.
Servicemen and women marched across the park, to a specially-built cenotaph near a lone oak.
They were joined by the Governor General, Air Commodore Kevin Short, Mayor Bob Parker, Members of Paliament and the Dean of the Christchurch Cathedral.

Copyright © 2011, Radio New Zealand

With the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them, we will remember them.