It is held on 25 April each year, which is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in 1915. The first commemorative service was held on 25 April 1916 in remembrance of the 2721 New Zealand soldiers who died during the eight month Gallipoli campaign.
Since 1916 the ceremony has evolved to the observance we know today, and acknowledges the sacrifice and service of subsequent wars and deployments of armed conflict which our servicepeople have endured while serving their country.
In Porirua, commemorative services begin before dawn with a march by returned and service personnel at each of the RSAs to a local memorial, where they are joined in the service by members of the community for the dawn service. Further services are conducted for members of the community to join in the commemorations mid morning.
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The timings and locations of services are published annually in Kapi-Mana News.
