Rotorua locals remember fallen heroes on Anzac Day

Flags moved gently with the light breeze and Lake Rotorua was still. One of the largest crowds the Rotorua Dawn Service had seen stood in silence beside the tombs of fallen soldiers.

Thousands of locals came together for Anzac Day yesterday, marking the Gallipoli landings in 1915. At Gallipoli, more than 130,000 men died, including 2779 Kiwis.

Te Arawa Services League president Te Kei Merito said the solemn morning was the largest turnout he had seen in the 20 years he had attended.

"It's hard to describe the atmosphere," Merito said.

Image 1 of 17: Rotorua's Dawn Service at Muruika Soldiers' Cemetery. Photo / Ben Fraser

"That setting, that particular landscape...standing among the tombs of the veterans provides a spiritual aspect."

The national theme of this year's Anzac commemorations is "Finding Our Way Back".

The journey back is also a metaphor for the return to a peace-time society, and 2019 is the time to reflect on the future.

Eugene Iti holding his grandfather James Hubbard's portrait, Captain of the Māori Battalion's B Company in WWII. Photo / Cira Olivier

Beside the Lakefront, steam lifted from the ground between the thousands of people gathered around the tombs in the Muruika Soldiers' Cemetery.

Although James Hubbard died 27 years ago, he was present at the Anzac Dawn Service as his grandson held his picture with pride.

Hubbard was the Captain of the B Company of the 28th Māori Battalion in World War II.

For Eugene Iti, Anzac Day has always been important, and on April 25 each year he stood before dawn to pay respect to his grandfather.

People gather at Ohinemutu for Rotorua's Anzac Day dawn service. Photo / Ben Fraser

"His regiment number was 67531," Iti recited by heart.

"He went to Italy, Greece, Rome, Gallipoli, all around there," he said.

While it felt like a lifetime ago the soldiers fought in the wars, Iti said they all needed to be remembered.

New Zealand Army Chaplain Major Darren O'Callaghan. Photo / Ben Fraser

"They didn't just fight because they had to fight, they fought for our country. For freedom for us."

Te Arawa Māori Returned Services League hosted the Anzac Dawn Service at the Ōhinemutu war memorial, conducted by Reverend Tom Poata.

At the service, Merito spoke about the importance of Anzac Day and of those who died in all wars.

Past and present servicemen and women stood in their uniforms to commemorate all who had fought for our country.

Poppy Taylor, 5, at the Rotorua Anzac Day dawn service. Photo / Ben Fraser

New Zealand army chaplain Major Darren O'Callaghan spoke of Anzac Day in the sacred land of Ngāti Whakaue.

"So many of our young men chose to go to war to uphold ideals of peace and freedom of what we in Aoetearoa New Zealand now benefit from and continue to benefit from," he said.

"To make the world a better and brighter place," he said.

Of the hundreds who stood shoulder-to-shoulder, it was not just locals who were on the Lakefront memorial grounds.

Mal Nicholls had come from Australia for his son's wedding and was told he could not leave before the Rotorua Dawn Service.

For a family heavily involved in the Australian Returned and Services League, Anzac Day has always been important.

From the steam, to the strong Māori cultural presence and acknowledgment, the Rotorua service left Nicholls speechless.

"I don't have particular words for it," he said.

A live screen and speakers were placed on the outskirts of the grounds for the crowds which spilled out of the memorial site.

The Australian national anthem, Advance Australia Fair, was sung to honour the Anzac partnership.

With gusto and heart, God Defend New Zealand was sung. The Rotorua District Field of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Government Gardens has 110 crosses, representing soldiers from the district who died during World War I. The crosses will remain there until May 1.