Remembering Those On Anzac Day

Thousands of people - and some animals - gathered at Anzac Day dawn services around the country this morning.

There was no sign of yesterday's rain as Kiwis wrapped themselves in blankets, beanies and scarves to face the cold and stand solemly in the dark to pay their respects to the 2721 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli during World War I.

Those who served in other conflicts were also remembered.

Wellington

At the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, resident Fay McGregor had wrapped around her an old army blanket with poppies attached that she had made last year to commemorate the centenary.

The words "Lest we forget" were also embroidered on the blanket.

Her husband's great grandfather was killed in Second World War.

Auckland

At the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Turkish exchange student Yigit Can Kaya delivered the Anzac dedication and said the importance of the message hit home as he spoke to the hushed crowd.

Mr Can Kaya, 18, who is from Istanbul and has just arrived in the country for a two week-long exchange at Auckland's Rangitoto College, only discovered yesterday he would be addressing the large gathering.

But as he stood on the outdoor podium facing the memorial cenotaph he said he cast his mind to those young men who had lost their lives in war from his school.

"Taking part and the certainly made me think about the students from our school who fought and died and it made me think it could have been me."

Mr Can Kaya said he was honoured to be selected for the role alongside fellow college student Isabel Corbett.

"I will never forget this day.

"I will watch this footage 10 years from now and look back."

Christchurch

In Christchurch, Mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the large crowd at the Cramner Square dawn service and urged them to remember those who gathered a century ago and to share in their sense of loss.

More than 1600 white crosses had been placed in the square, representing some of the number of Cantabrians killed in the war a century ago. There will be hundreds more at next year's service, in memory of those killed on the Western Front in 1916, especially at the infamous Battle of the Somme, until the final tally is reached.

The New Zealand Army Band performed Dave Dobbyn's Welcome Home which was sung at Chunuk Bair at last year's centenary commemorations at Gallipoli.

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