Thousands turned out in Cranmer Square for the dawn service -- one of dozens of similar services held across New Zealand and Australia today.
Mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the crowd 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.
Jimmy Murchison, 55, laid a poppy after the service in memory of his grandfather who fought in World War I.
"I came today to pay my respects to him, and the others, in my small way," he said.
"It's very uplifting to see so many others doing the same."
After the service, Mr Mitchell retired to the Christchurch RSA with his family for breakfast.
He was glad he could today pay his respects to those who served during World War I, including three of his own uncles.
"What those chaps did was bloody amazing," he said.
Mr Mitchell signed up alongside his brother for the army at the outbreak of World War II.
However, he was posted to the RNZAF.
"I wanted to fly but at 26 I was too old. They just wanted 18-year-olds," he said.
He spent six years as an engineer, repairing parts on aircrafts, mainly bombers flown by New Zealand pilots.
Reflecting over a cup of tea today, Mr Mitchell believed that Anzac Day should now help promote a message of peace.
"We shouldn't be having wars, but that's the nature of the world today. It's very sad," he said.
