ANZAC Day 2012 - Dawn Service

E aku rangatira e hui tahi nei, e te hunga hōia o ngā pakanga o mua, o ngā pakanga o inaianei, ngā pouaru me a whānau, aku mihi māhana ki a koutou katoa I tenei rā whakamau mā hara.  To the veterans, the soldiers of past and present battles, the widows and the families, and all those who have gathered here, my warm greetings to you all on this day of remembrance.

It’s an honour for me to be here at this Dawn Service at Cranmer Square, to commemorate Anzac Day. 

Ninety-seven years ago, as the dawn was about to break on the other side of the world, the men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - the ANZACs - landed on the shores of Gallipoli.  In what proved to be a tragic and ill-fated campaign tens of thousands of men died.  New Zealand lost 2721 men, Australia lost 8709.

This morning, veterans have marched to war memorials throughout New Zealand as a mark of remembrance for their fallen comrades.  And in a few hours’ time Australian veterans will join us in remembering their fallen comrades.

We gather this morning to remember men and women, not to glorify their deeds, but to remember their example.  We join with our veterans to recall the service of all those who have served in the defence of our country, its values, the democratic freedoms we enjoy, and our way of life.

We gather this morning to remember how, in the trenches, stench and soil of Gallipoli that strong and enduring bonds of comradeship were formed between New Zealanders and Australians.  And we recall that in the aftermath of battle and defeat, we have also built strong ties of friendship with our former Turkish foes.  Gallipoli, it is suggested kindled that first sense of a unique national character for the peoples of all three nations.

We gather this morning to remember the courage, comradeship, and compassion shown by the ANZACs at Gallipoli.  They are enduring values that have been demonstrated by the men and women of New Zealand’s Army, Air Force and Navy since that time as they have defended New Zealand and have strived to bring peace to troubled lands.

They are also the values that we have witnessed in the response to other calamities at home.  They are the values of the brave, the caring and the thoughtful.

Two months ago we gathered at Hagley Park to mark the first anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake.  While we continue to grieve, we take pride in actions of ordinary Kiwis who put their own lives at risk, cared for their neighbours and helped strangers.  And we take pride that it is still the case that bonds of compassion, community and friendship have remained strong and resilient.  The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand’s Gold award to the people of Christchurch and the ANZAC of the Year Award to the Student Volunteer Army speak of those enduring values.

Almost a century on from the distinguished service of the first Anzacs, we remember their example; their incredible ANZAC legend and their legacy; our heritage. 

Lest we forget - Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.