Anzac Day | Hamilton City Council

Watch the service

2023 Anzac Day Services

Hamilton’s 2023 Anzac Day memorial services take place at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, on Memorial Drive. Both services go ahead regardless of weather conditions.

The 2023 services will be MCed by New Zealand Army Reservist officer Lieutenant Colonel Olly Te Ua.

There will be big screens in the park that will show both the dawn and civic services, meaning people can see and hear both services from further back in Memorial Park.

Dawn Service 6am

The dawn service begins at 6am, with the parade leaving the corner of Victoria Street and Anzac Parade at 5.45am, and finishing at around 6.40am. Parade details below.

Civic Service 10am

The civic service begins at 10am, with the civic parade leaving from the corner of Anzac Parade and Memorial Drive at 9.45am, and the service finishing at around 11.15am. Parade details below. Following the civic service, you are welcome to stay and listen to the Hamilton Brass Band and the Waikato Rivertones Chorus perform at the Cenotaph.

Following each service individuals are welcome to lay their own wreath or flowers at the Cenotaph, but this will not be part of the official services.

More than 5000 poppies will be installed on the corner of Memorial Drive and Anzac Parade again this year, and the Fields of Rememberance Trust will place 350 white crosses in Memorial Park to acknowledge the Hamiltonians lost in conflict. Both the crosses and the poppies will be installed on Monday 24 April and will be removed on Wednesday 26 April.

Mobility parking

A limited number of disabled car parks will be available close to Memorial Park – please email events@hcc.govt.nz if you require disabled parking.

Volunteers wanted

We’re looking for volunteers to help on the day, as well as the day before to help set up and plant poppies in the ground. If you or your school or community group can help, please get in touch with events@hcc.govt.nz

Dawn Parade & Service

All service people or their representatives who wish to take part in the dawn parade should assemble at the corner of Victoria Street and Anzac Parade no later than 5.30am for a 5.45am start. The parade marshal will direct the order of the march. The parade will march to the Cenotaph where the service will begin at 6am. At the conclusion of the service, at around 6.40am, the parade marches back to and ends at Victoria Street.

Limited seating for participants who require it will be available at the dawn parade service.

Dress: Civilian clothes and medals. Family members who have inherited medals can wear these medals on the right side of the chest.

Civic Parade & Service

Those who wish to take part in the civic parade should assemble at the corner of Anzac Parade and Memorial Drive no later than 9.30am for a 9.45am start. The parade marshal will direct the order of the march. The parade will march to the Cenotaph where the civic service will begin at 10am (the civic parade does not have a return march).

Following the civic service, you are welcome to stay and listen to the Hamilton Brass Band and the Waikato Rivertones Chorus perform at the Cenotaph.

Dress: Civilian clothes and medals. Family members who have inherited medals can wear these medals on the right side of the chest.

Road Closures

The following road closures will be in place on Tuesday 25 April for the Anzac Day services (please note, this day is a public holiday):

Memorial Drive, from Te Aroha Street to Anzac Parade, 12am to 1pm
Victoria Street, from Knox Street to Anzac Parade, 3am to 10am

Anzac Parade, from Victoria Street to Grey Street, 3am to 1pm

Boat ramp closure

The boat ramp at Commerce Park, Grantham St will be closed from 5.30am until 11.30am, or until the end of the commemoration service. We appreciate your cooperation.

Some things to remember on the day

If you have known medical conditions or are at high risk, please take precautions to ensure your own safety on the day, especially getting to the dawn service in the dark, or stay home and watch the livestream.

Help make our Anzac Day services the best they can be:

clear the way for wheelchairs and those with mobility issues
remain on the footpath as parade passes and don’t cross through the parade as it processes
refrain from touching or feeding the horses
give vehicles carrying disabled or service people plenty of room to get through and safely unload their passengers
offer your seat to older persons, people with mobility issues, or women who are pregnant. If you are worried about losing your view, there will be two large screens (located on the map) for you to watch and listen to the services from other areas of the park

Anzac Day Background

25 April marks the anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs (the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915. Despite the defeat at Gallipoli, the shared experience helped foster a sense of nationhood in both New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand first observed Anzac Day in 1916. Since then, Anzac Day has evolved, with Kiwis of all ages attending services and events across New Zealand and the world, including at Gallipoli.

We honour the ANZAC values of courage, compassion, camaraderie and commitment.

Hamilton usually celebrates Anzac Day with a dawn service and a civic service, both held at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, on Memorial Drive.

You can view photos from past Anzac Day events here. Please note, 2020 Anzac Day services were not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.