Sergeant Piripi Matthews has served in the past as the Maori warrior in the annual remembrance day ceremony at the cenotaph, and says the discomfort of standing in minimal clothing in often very cold, pre-dawn conditions is nothing compared to the suffering of soldiers in World War 1.
Sgt Matthews, of the 2/4 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, was training members of the regiment and members of the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve yesterday in preparation for the Anzac Day dawn service at Queens Gardens.
''The first time I was the Maori warrior guard was the coldest,'' he said.
''My feet went numb and I shivered uncontrollably but reminded myself the soldiers we were there to remember had suffered a lot more.
''It does get cold standing on the cenotaph in minimal clothing. However, discipline and wairua (spirit) minimise the effects.''
He said the role was shared, and would this year be performed by Lance Corporal Lundon Williamson.
There was a culture of camaraderie and family being a serviceman or woman, and Anzac Day was ''an important day for them to reflect on the friends lost, time shared while on deployment, hardships experienced together and to celebrate the achievements of service''.
It was pleasing to see the growth in numbers at the services, ''acknowledging past and present servicemen and women for the role they played so we may enjoy the freedoms in our country today''.
''It's an important day for us to remember and just pay tribute to why we have the freedoms we do today.
''I think it's a humble way for New Zealand to come together for that reason.''
At 6.15am tomorrow, veterans will be called to fall in on parade behind the City of Dunedin Pipe Band. They will assemble in Crawford St. The ceremony at the cenotaph will begin at 6.30am.
