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National | ANZAC

New Zealand pays tribute to ANZAC soldiers

Miki Apiti opened the Anzac Day Auckland Dawn Service ceremony this morning where many families gathered to pay tribute at Pukekawa Hill, which The Auckland War Memorial Museum sits on.

Thousands of families paid their respects to more-than 30,000 New Zealanders who have fought and died at war.

The dawn service was also led by Auckland Mayor Len Brown who spoke about the history of this historic day.

“Since that first service all those years ago the importance of ANZAC Day, especially to the young has not diminished”, says Mayor Len Brown.

In Wellington, the crowd packed out the entire area of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, which included Prime Minister John Key and the Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

“It is a sacred ritual for us to meet at dawn on this sacred day,” says Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Alongside The Royal New Zealand Air Force the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was covered in poppies.