It's a day that stirs the emotions for many New Zealanders, but the Anzac holiday period is particularly tough on Lance Corporal Sammie Tapara.
Two years ago she lost her partner, 21-year-old Private Te Tahuna Daniel Tahapeehi, when he was killed in a traffic accident the day after Anzac Day. His motorbike collided with a car outside Linton Military Base, where he was stationed, near Palmerston North.
His death followed the 2010 Anzac Day helicopter crash. Three crewmen died when their Iroquois helicopter hit a hill at Pukerua Bay, about 40km north of Wellington.
On Friday night last week, Ms Tapara had to put down her 4-year-old black labrador Girl after she was hit by a speeding car outside her house in Greerton Rd.
Girl had been Mr Tahapeehi's pet, which Ms Tapara had looked after since he died.