The war against Covid-19 has seen ANZAC Day services around the country cancelled for the first time in NZ history, but that won’t stop New Zealanders showing their respect to those who lost their lives in a very different type of battle. Video / Auckland War Memorial Museum / Dean Purcell / Chris Tarpey / Michael Craig
Hamilton City Council is encouraging residents to Stand at Dawn but stay in their bubble this Anzac Day.
The council is supporting the Stand at Dawn campaign, initiated by the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association and New Zealand Defence Force, to mark Anzac Day while in lockdown.
For the first time since Anzac Day was introduced in 1916, memorial services across New Zealand are cancelled, to keep our community safe during Covid-19.
To ensure the tradition of commemorating veterans and service personnel is carried out despite the lockdown, Stand at Dawn is asking Kiwis to gather in their bubbles at 6am on Anzac Day to pay their respects.
A home made Anzac memorial has been placed out in a Dinsdale's residents front garden. Photo / Tom Rowland
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate says while many people will be upset to miss the traditional Dawn and Civic parades, this was "the best possible compromise".
"This is a chance for all of us to come together in our streets, in our suburbs and in our city to feel part of something that is much bigger than all of us. Anzac Day has very deep significance for New Zealanders and while we might be doing it differently this year, it is just as meaningful."
The RSA and NZDF are suggesting people Stand at Dawn at their letterbox, front door, in their lounge rooms, balconies or driveway. However, if residents are doing so outdoors in their neighbourhoods, they need to stay within their bubble and maintain physical distancing from other bubbles.
As a way to pay respects, Kiwis are being urged to "never forget" from inside their bubbles by placing images of poppies in their windows, including a special edition poster from today's New Zealand Herald artist and cartoonist Rod Emmerson, published in today's Herald and available to download below.
A special edition image by Herald illustrator Rod Emmerson. Image / Rod Emmerson
The council is reminding people that under Alert Level 4, non-essential travel and interactions with others outside our bubbles are prohibited.
To protect the wellbeing of the community, Hamiltonians should not move around the city to mark Anzac Day, Mayor Southgate said.
"Even if a memorial site is in your neighbourhood, please stay at your house, stand at dawn and do your part to keep people safe."
"We are, of course, very disappointed that Anzac Day has needed to be cancelled this year, and hope the people of Hamilton and the Waikato will join us in standing at dawn as well as the other options for Anzac services online, on radio and television," Hamilton RSA President Jan Luttrell said.
"Many families are putting pictures of poppies in their windows and some have been uploaded to the Hamilton RSA Facebook page. That's so heart-warming to see and we really appreciate that interaction."
The council has prepared a special Anzac Day video which will be posted to their Facebook page on Saturday.
