Anzac Day

Anzac Day originated to commemorate the landings of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire, on 25 April 1915 during World War I. The campaign, intended to capture Constantinople, became a costly failure with heavy casualties. For New Zealand, the Gallipoli campaign was a defining moment that fostered a sense of national identity. The first official commemoration took place in 1916, with services and parades held in New Zealand and overseas.

In New Zealand, Anzac Day begins with dawn services at war memorials and cenotaphs across the country, replicating the quiet time before the landings. Services include hymns, the Last Post, a minute of silence, and the laying of wreaths. Poppies are worn as a symbol of remembrance, inspired by the poem 'In Flanders Fields.' Later in the morning, veterans and community members participate in parades. Many bake Anzac biscuits—a simple oat and coconut cookie originally sent to soldiers—and consume them as a traditional food. In recent years, the day has also become a time for remembering all New Zealanders killed in war, including civilian casualties, and for reflecting on peace.

Anzac Day is arguably New Zealand’s most important national day, embodying the values of courage, sacrifice, mateship, and national pride. It transcends a celebration of military victory to become a solemn day of remembrance, honoring the loss of life in all armed conflicts. For many New Zealanders, it is a time to reflect on the cost of war and to appreciate the peace and freedoms they enjoy today.