ANZAC Day Description
ANZAC Day on April 25th is one of New Zealand's most solemn national occasions, commemorating the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, in 1915 during World War I. It now honors all New Zealanders who have served and died in military conflicts. Dawn services — held at war memorials, cenotaphs, and RSA halls across the country — begin around 6:00 AM, the time of the original Gallipoli landing. The largest services are at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, and Christchurch's Cranmer Square. The wearing of red poppies is widespread, and the Last Post bugle call and a minute of silence are observed. Under the Shop Trading Hours Act, most retail shops must remain closed until 1:00 PM. Government offices, banks, and schools close. ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, and under Mondayisation rules, the following Monday (April 27th) becomes the public holiday for workers who would not normally work on Saturdays. Many New Zealanders attend RSA clubrooms afterward for rum and coffee ('gunfire breakfast'), in keeping with the tradition of soldiers' breakfast.
