A wet spell during Anzac Day will clear away by the weekend as a front departs and a large high builds across the country.

Sir Tony Robinson was in New Zealand recently as part of his new television series retelling the war stories of our ANZAC veterans in the lead up to the commemoration of 100 years since the world war.

He carried an injured Gurkha for 54 hours through thick jungle and swamp. He then hid the wounded soldier and later returned with a search party. Lieutenant Colonel John Milbanke Masters was named as New Zealand's inaugural Anzac of the Year, an award recognising comradeship, courage and commitment. It was recognition of a life in which Masters put others first, from life-saving deeds on the battlefields of Indonesia, which earned him a Military Cross, to campaigning for the rights of Vietnam War veterans exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange.

Anzac Day shopping laws should be a "blueprint'' for all holidays in which shops are required to close, the Retailers Association says.

Click here for a full list of Anzac Day services around New Zealand.

All war veterans would be eligible for a veteran's pension under a Labour government, leader David Cunliffe said yesterday.

People paying their respects at Anzac Day dawn services can expect low cloud and rain in some parts of the country.

They helped fight off the Imperial Japanese Navy at Guadalcanal and half a century later kept the peace in East Timor. They were also NZ's first search and rescue helicopters.

George Ward was a tank gunner in Italy in WWII. The Anzac veteran, who still lives in the house he built in Henderson after the war, raised three daughters alone after his wife died of cancer. He turned 99 last Saturday.

In the closing minutes of this stirring story of 14 New Zealanders sent to the front in World War I, the main character, explained for the umpteenth time that he was not a soldier.

When Paul Southwick embarked on a lengthy search for his father's World War II acquaintances, the best he hoped for was a few words of remembrance, maybe a photo.

North Islanders can look forward to more settled weather for their short working week, but may want to keep their raincoats handy for Anzac weekend.

An Anzac Day documentary tells the story of a Kiwi soldier who comforted the dying.

Anzac Day services are planned around the country on Friday. A dawn service and civic ceremony will take place at Auckland Domain, where a parade will begin at 6am.

In 1942, at the age of 49, World War One hero Ormond Burton went on trial in the Supreme Court at Wellington.

This year, Anzac Day closely follows Easter, the most sacredly held period for Christians. One of these narratives is deeply embedded in fact, the other, myth, writes Sam Clements.

Two top military officers will be among volunteers collecting donations from the public for today's Poppy Day appeal.

Gallipoli means more to New Zealanders than words can convey. But when the names of Mary and Doug Hill were drawn from the ballot this week for places at the 100th Anzac Day, the moment was especially poignant.

A Singapore-based Kiwi couple were among 950 NZers selected from a ballot to attend the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing in Gallipoli next year.

Downing St has intervened to quell the the latest row over WWI centenary commemorations amid claims the role of Australian and NZ troops is being ignored.

British officials are defending their plans for commemorations of World War I amid fears recognition of New Zealand's role could fall victim to an "Anzac whitewash".

There are fears recognition of NZ's role in WWI in British commemorations this year could fall victim to an 'Anzac whitewash' driven by domestic politics.

The sole survivor of the Anzac Day helicopter crash has been allowed to lay health and safety charges against the Defence Force.

The sole survivor of the Anzac Day 2010 military helicopter crash today launched his court bid to seek criminal prosecutions for his air force superiors.

The Government says up to 2000 places will be open to New Zealanders to attend Anzac Day at Gallipoli for the 100th anniversary in 2015.