Photo project focuses on veterans

Our living war heroes are set to be remembered for years to come, after a photography project was launched for Anzac Day and beyond to capture their portraits.

On Anzac Day over 100 photographers around the country photographed war veterans for a New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography initiative.

The photos will be gifted to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association as part of next year's Gallipoli centenary ceremonies.

Featherston photographer Esther Bunning was set up at the RSA in Masterton on Anzac Day and photographed five war veterans. She said she took part in the project because she wanted to document war veterans "incredible legacy" and make sure that their heritage was there for everyone to see. "It is such a privilege to be involved."

Ms Bunning said she hoped more war veterans would come to get their photo taken after seeing the portraits.

"There are still many veterans in Wairarapa that have not come forward as yet, and I'm readily available to photograph them over the next month - we really want to have as many as possible photographed nationwide."

She said she can be contacted via a veteran's RSA club.

RSA chief executive David Moger said the project would help remind war veterans that people honour them in New Zealand.

"Not only will the body of work make an immense contribution to New Zealand's national archives during the centenary commemorations of World War I, but the act of taking the photographs will show our veterans that they are remembered and that the sacrifices they made for the freedom of us all is still honoured."

More than 3000 World War II veterans were at Anzac services across the country on Anzac Day. The aim for NZIPP was to photograph as many as possible during the services and in the days following.