Thousands march to honour the fallen

New Zealanders young and old remembered those fallen in battle at Anzac services around the world.

Thousands turned up to parades around the country, including the dawn service at Mt Maunganui and further afield at Gallipoli, Turkey.

In Auckland, thousands marched through the gates of the Domain and to the cenotaph outside the city's museum, which was lit up in the colour of a poppy.

The weather cleared for the dawn service where veterans were applauded and fallen soldiers remembered.

"The cost and horror of those days still haunt us as a nation," Royal New Zealand Navy chaplain Colin Mason told the crowd.

"May the memory of their lives inspire us by the dreams they had for their land."

Mayor Len Brown said Anzac Day was a chance to remember the 18,500 New Zealanders killed in the Great War, including the more than 7200 from the Auckland province.

He told the crowd it was "such a huge sacrifice for such a young country".

"We gather to remember the bravest of the brave. The men and women ... who made the ultimate sacrifice," Mr Brown said.

Yesterday was the first Anzac Day since the final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.