Anzac Day: Emotional dawn services in Tauranga and Rotorua as thousands attend

Thousands of people attended the Anzac Day dawn service at Mount Maunganui on Tuesday morning. Photo / Alex Cairns

A cold chill sat heavy in the air this morning as thousands gathered to remember them. As dawn prepared to break at Mount Maunganui, the crowd swelled as people shuffled from foot to foot.

An eerie silence fell and gave way to the haunting sound of bagpipes.

Backs straight, eyes shining bright, old and young marched in unison. Every military service was represented and joined by cadets, scouts and mariners.

World War II and Korean veteran Don Wilson, 94, was front and foremost. His youngest granddaughter, Elise Morgan, proudly pushed his wheelchair as he led the parade and she wiped tears from her eyes.

Veteran Don Wilson with his grandaughter, Elise Morgan, leads the dawn parade at Mount Maunganui. Photo / Alex Cairns

Mount Maunganui RSA president Arthur King said the spirit of the Anzacs would never be forgotten.

He said they would be remembered for their “tenacity, bravery and suffering”.

This year also marked the 107th forming of the Returned Services Association, which was still going strong today.

Dean Culhane, who attended the dawn service, said Anzac Day was important to him because he was able to wear medals awarded to his father, who fought in Vietnam.

“It’s an honour and I feel very proud as well as sad today.”

Dawn services were also held at Pāpāmoa, Tauranga city and Tauranga Moana Tumatauenga.

At the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service Master of Ceremonies commissioner, Anne Tolley said it was important the region stood together to commemorate Anzac Day.

“Today provides an opportunity not just to express collective grief for the lives lost or impacted by the physical and mental trauma sustained in battle. But to offer our thanks for what our servicemen and women have done and continue to do, to safeguard the freedoms we all treasure.”

Tolley said her grandfather fought at the Gallipoli Peninsula and she acknowledged Anzac had a personal significance for many people.

She said the days and weeks of carnage that followed at Gallipoli the soldiers demonstrated immense courage and indomitable spirit, winning the respect of friend and foe alike.

The crowds started gathering at the cenotaph at Ōhinemutu as early as 5am. Photo / Maryana Garcia

In Rotorua, hundreds braved the chilly 2C morning for the dawn ceremony with crowds started gathering at the cenotaph at Ōhinemutu as early as 5am.

At the ceremony, St Faith’s Anglican Church Rotorua’s Reverend Tom Poata acknowledged the service of men and women past and present.

St Mary’s Rotorua parish priest Fr Prakash Somu offered prayers for all those affected by war and conflict at this time.

Te Arawa and Ngāti Whakaue kaumātua Monty Morrison said the dawn service was “heartening”.

”There’s certainly a lot of people here this morning and given the cold, it’s impressive,” Morrison said.

”It’s wonderful to see a huge number of families here.

”I think as time has passed there’s been a greater interest not only in Gallipoli but really in the wider issues around it.”

Morrison said the turnout showed there was widespread belief in the importance of the day.

”[People know] how important it is for us to remember the soldiers who fought and others whom we have lost along the way.”

Lest we Forget.