Anzac Day
Anzac Day is our national day of remembrance, observed annually on April 25. The day commemorates those who died serving New Zealand during the war, and honours returned servicemen and women, past and present.
This day marks the anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs (the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915.
As a community, we honour the ANZAC values of courage, compassion, camaraderie and commitment.
2024 services
Residents and visitors to the Waipā district are cordially invited to attend the Anzac Day Commemorative Services.
Pukeatua
When: Sunday, April 21 at 11am
Service location: Pukeatua Memorial Church
Tokanui
When: Sunday, April 21 at 1:30pm
Service location: Tokanui Cemetery
Cambridge
When: Thursday, April 25
Dawn service will be held outside the Cambridge Town Hall commencing at 6am, muster at 5:45am on the eastern side of the Town Hall Piazza.
There is no indoor wet weather option, and the parade will go ahead no matter the weather.
Civic Commemorative service will be held inside the Town Hall commencing at 9am, followed by placing wreaths at the Cenotaph. Families who wish to lay a wreath are welcome to do so after the official wreaths have been laid.
Members of the public and community who wish to participate in the Civic Commemorative Service Parade are asked to assemble on Alpha Street outside Onyx restaurant at 8:30am. Group leaders and markers are to report to the parade marshal at 8:20am outside Cambridge Vets.
Additional mobility parking will be available for those who need it in Kirkwood Street for both services. Please note that there will be limited seating for older veterans at the Dawn Service.
Find more information on Cambridge's Dawn and Commemorative Services here.
Kihikihi
When: Thursday, April 25 at 8:30am
Service location: War Memorial, Kihikihi
Ōhaupō
When: Thursday, April 25 at 10am
Service location: Ōhaupō Memorial Hall, Great South Road, Ōhaupō
Pirongia
When: Thursday, April 25 at 6am
Service location: Pirongia Memorial Hall, Franklin Street, Pirongia
Organised groups that would like to march need to assemble at 5:45am at the Five Stags car park. Light refreshments will be served in the hall after the service.
Te Awamutu
When: Thursday, April 25
Dawn service will be held at the Sunken Cross War Memorial, Mutu Street at 6am. Ex service personnel will parade outside the RSA Clubroom, 381 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu at 5:45am. Light refreshment will be served at the RSA Clubrooms after the service. Wet weather venue is the RSA Clubrooms.
Te Awamutu Cemetery Flag raising ceremony with veterans and members of the public at 7:45am.
Civic Commemorative Service will be held at the War Memorial, ANZAC Green, commencing at 11am. Members of the public are invited to join the returned and service personnel there. Returned, service and members of uniformed groups are requested to parade at the RSA Clubrooms, 381 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu at 10:45am. Wet weather venue is the Te Awamutu Events Centre.
Further information: The RSA requests that medals be worn. Medals worn by family on behalf of deceased service personnel should be worn on the right side of the chest. Wreaths will be laid at the memorial and organisations wanting to place official wreaths will report to the Marshall in Teasdale Street on arrival at the Cenotaph. The RSA Clubrooms will be open for all members, invited guests and members of affiliated clubs are welcome from 1pm, with the restaurant available and entertainment provided.