Anzac Day 2025 Dawn Service

Phones to silent please.

A karanga is called by Hana Buchanan, Taranaki Whānui, as the Official Party proceed to the stage.

A response is called by Dr Alishia Moeahu, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe.

Parade marches on to Anzac Square.

Welcome

Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM
Te Atamira
Master of Ceremonies.

Drum Roll

Lament

We will remember them
Flight Sergeant Murray Mansfield QSM
Piper.

Karakia Tīmatanga

Opening karakia by Peter Jackson
Taranaki Whānui.

Opening Prayer

Chaplain Class 2 James Molony
New Zealand Defence Force.

National Anthems

Rose Aldridge leads the National Anthems accompanied by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band.

Advance Australia Fair

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are one and free
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history’s page let every stage
Advance Australia fair
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

Aotearoa

E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarongona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa.

God Defend New Zealand

God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land
Guard Pacific’s triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

Anzac Address

The Honourable Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance

Waiata

O Valiant Hearts
Composed by Charles Harris and John Stanhope Arkwright
Accompanied by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band.

Reading

Rear Admiral Mathew Williams MNZM
Vice Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Quotation

Her Excellency Ömür Ünsay
Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye

Words attributed to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Anzac Dedication

Kevin Arlidge
President
Wellington Returned and Services’ Association.

Laying of Wreaths

The Honourable Nicola Willis
on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand

Together with:

His Excellency Daniel Sloper PSM
High Commissioner of Australia
on behalf of the Government and people of Australia.

Her Excellency Ömür Ünsay
Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye
on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Ode

Warrant Officer Class 1 Rawhiti Turia
New Zealand Defence Force.

E kore rātou e kaumātuatia
Pēnei i a tātou kua mahue nei
E kore hoki rātou e ngoikore
Ahakoa pēhea i ngā āhuatanga o te wā
I te hekenga atu o te rā
Tae noa ki te aranga mai i te ata
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.

Response: Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.

Kevin Arlidge
President
Wellington Returned and Services’ Association.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Response: We will remember them.

Last Post

The flags of New Zealand and Australia are lowered to half-mast.

One Minute Silence

Reveille

The flags of New Zealand and the Australia are raised to the mast-head.

Leading Aircraftman Cameron Robertson 
Bugler.

Flight Sergeant Grant Myhill
Drummer.

Prayer of Peace and Blessing

Chaplain Class 2 James Molon.

Karakia Whakamutanga

Closing karakia by
Peter Jackson.

Departure

The Official Party departs.

Conclusion

Members of the public are invited to lay poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

This Dawn Service was arranged by Wellington Returned and Services’ Association and Te Tari o te Rāhiri me te Manaaki Manuhiri Ōkawa Visits and Ceremonial Office, Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs in partnership with Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa New Zealand Defence Force.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand CNZM appears by arrangement with Johnson & Laird Management.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:
Massey University
Wellington High School
Mount Cook School