A forecast of rain did not deter the more than 2000 people who attended the Anzac Day dawn service at Dunedin's Queens Gardens this morning.
While the rain failed to eventuate, crowds were there to watch veterans march towards the cenotaph shortly after 6am, on this 96th anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers at Gallipoli.
Two blanks fired from a Howitzer signalled the start of the service, which included a speech from Lieutenant-Colonel Roger McElwain, commanding officer of the 4th Otago Southland Battalion Group.
"There are only a few days in New Zealand's history which define who qwe are as a people. Anzac Day, is one of those days,'' he said.
"It is a day that defines our relationship to one another, and to the rest of the world and is a day that reinforces our sense of identity, belonging and pride as a nation. It is a national day where we honour those who have served New Zealand through their military service, in particulalr those who have lost their lives in that service.
"Anzac Day is a time of remembrance that continues to incease in stature every year.''
Following a rendition of the Last Post, and the signing of the Australian and New Zealand national anthems the service concluded with hundreds using the opportunity to examine the wreaths and laty their own poppies.
Elsewhere, thousands of New Zealanders were not deterred by often wet weather as they gathered at war memorials and town halls throughout the country at ANZAC Day Dawn Services to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers at Gallipoli.
In Wellington, heavy overnight rain eased in time for the start of the 5.45 service at the Cenotaph as an estimated 3000 people including old soldiers, dignitaries and the Turkish Ambassador to New Zealand gathered.
The ambassador, Ali Yakital, told those gathered that he was filled with special emotion for being part of the Dawn Service marking the 96th anniversary of the battle of Gallipoli.
He said great mutual respect has grown out of the horrors of war, Radio New Zealand reported.
In Auckland a parade to the cenotaph at Auckland Museum began at 5.45 and was followed by a dawn service at 6am
Several thousand people gathered at the War Memorial museum despite the heavy rain.
The Salvation Army Auckland City Band and the Auckland Youth Choir led the crowds in singing Abide with Me, at the largest dawn service in the country.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown laid a wreath in memory of those who died and read a dedication to remember the comrades who fought for freedom on land, sea and in the air but did not return.
"We feel them still there with us in spirit. We wish to be worthy of their great sacrifice. Let us, therefore, once more dedicate ourselves to the service of the ideals for which they died. The dawn is even now about to pierce the light so let their memory inspire us with the coming of the new light to the dark places of the world," Mr Brown said.
A RNZAF fly-over had to be cancelled due to poor weather.
Christchurch's service was not held in Cathedral Square but North Hagley Park because of the damage caused by February's earthquake.
One of the most historic ceremonies is at the Tinui Memorial Cross in the Wairarapa, recognised as a site of national significance by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
Locals trekked to the wooden cross on April 25 1916 to mark the first Anzac Day, and it was one of a handful of sites where a memorial was erected during the war.
The cross, which is on private land, was replaced with an aluminium cross in 1965.
New Zealand service men and women will celebrate Anzac Day around the world, including in New York, Beijing and Afghanistan.
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones will represent the Defence Force at services at Gallipoli in Turkey, which will also be attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will commemorate Anzac Day with a series of fly overs.
In Wellington, a flypass by three Iroquois helicopters was cancelled because of low cloud.
An RNZAF Harvard is to fly over Picton, Seddon, Renwick and Richmond in the Marlborough region, while an Orion will fly over New Plymouth and Christchurch in between services at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland.
April 25 marks the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli, in what was the Ottoman Empire, and commemorates the 2721 New Zealand soldiers who died in the eight-month campaign.
Growing interest in Anzac Day, which also honours returned veterans, has swelled the ranks of people attending dawn services over the years.
