A group of 21 cadets and nine officers, headed by unit commander Lieutenant Paul Booth, flew to Wellington yesterday to take part in the nation's 100th anniversary commemorations in the capital.
While there, they would take in some of the capital's war-themed attractions at Te Papa and elsewhere, Lt Booth said.
But on Saturday, the group would parade at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and read the Ode of Remembrance, Lt Booth said.
Sergeant Oliver Morrison would read the ode in English, followed by Cadet Iona McArthur, who would read it in Maori.
Lt Booth said the ode was being read each day at the tomb as part of the nation's WW1 commemorations, and it would be a special event for the cadets.
''It's a really big thing for the cadets to be able to experience that, and see the [Tomb] of the Unknown Soldier.
''It's a very simple ceremony, but it's a very prestigious thing to be involved in,'' he said.
The initiative was the brainchild of the unit's committee, supported by the cadets and parents, but required a lot of ''hard work'' last year to fundraise $20,000 for their trip, he said.
The fundraising drive was helped by $4000 from a variety of community grants organisations, he said.
Cdt McArthur, who would read the ode in Maori, said she had some public speaking experience, having won a speech competition at her school, Kavanagh College.
However, the thought of the special occasion on Saturday was still making her nervous.
''It's a privilege,'' she said.
