Thousands of Hawke's Bay residents are set to commemorate Anzac Day on Monday, with a number of events to be held around the region. 

Since 1916, communities across New Zealand have taken a day in April to remember the soldiers who died at Gallipoli.

But those who survived that day in 1915 are long gone and only a few who fought in World War Two remain. 

An Anzac Day commemorative service will this year be live-streamed from Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital chapel, due to Covid-19. 

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board lead chaplain, Jeannine Epplett, says this years’ service would reflect the price of citizenship and sacrifices made after the Great War of 1914-1918 when the people of Hastings chose to name their new hospital after soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

“Our hospital is New Zealand’s only soldiers’ memorial hospital with Anzac Day poignantly marking the official opening of the hospital by the Minister of Health, Hon. JA Young on 25 April 1928.

“Normally our Anzac Day service is widely attended by members of our community, staff and patients who are able. However, due to uncertainties of COVID-19, we have instead chosen to hold a small invite-only service inside the chapel which will be live-streamed so people can choose to be present, wherever they may be.”

Commemorations in Wairoa will again be scaled down because of Covid-19, with a dawn service at Kaiuku Marae and a town service.

However, Mayor Craig Little says this does not diminish its significance. 

“Personally, ANZAC Day is a very significant time for me, and I acknowledge it is difficult to have scaled back events. However, I know, in our hearts, everyone will still pay their tributes and remember those who went before us." 

While he acknowledges it is hard to once again limit commemorations, Little says it is important to protect our returned service people and keep them safe by limiting gathering size, following social distancing and wearing masks.

"We need to take extra special care of our older veterans, and I do look forward to seeing old friends at these services, but from a distance." 

In Central Hawke's Bay, 10 services will take place across the district, in Waipukurau, Otāne and Pōrangahau, Hatuma, Ongaonga, Tikokino, Omakere, Elsthorpe, Takapau and Waipawa. 

Mayor Alex Walker says it is important that we remember the bravery and honour of all our servicemen and servicewomen.

In addition to Anzac commemorations, two local cenotaphs will reach their 100th anniversary this year. The Takapau cenotaph will do so on Anzac Day itself, while the Waipawa Town Clock cenotaph was first unveiled on July 21, 1922.

Hawke's Bay ANZAC services: 

Hastings:
6.30am: Dawn Service, Hastings Civic Square Cenotaph
6.30am: Waimārama Memorial Hall
9am: Havelock North Cenotaph
9.30am: Clive Cenotaph, Ferry Road, Clive
9.45am: Maraekākaho Memorial
11am: Rissington
11am: HB Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital Service to be live-streamed

Napier:
5am - 7am: Napier Dawn Service
10am-12.30pm: Napier Civic Service
8:30am-11am: Taradale Civic Service

Wairoa:
5.45am: Mahia Dawn Service, Kaiuku Marae, Mahia
9am: Frasertown Service, Frasertown Cenotaph
10.30am: Taihoa Marae Service, Taihoa Marae
11am: Wairoa Civic Service, (Outdoor Service), War Memorial Hall

Central Hawke's Bay:
5.45am: Waipukurau Dawn Service - Assemble in the car park at the rear of the Memorial Hall, River Terrace, Waipukurau, for service at 6am at the War Memorial Cenotaph. 
5.45am: Otāne Dawn Service - Otāne Hall Cenotaph, Higginson Street, Otāne. 
5.45am: Pōrangahau Dawn Service - Pōrangahau Hall, Abercromby Street. 
9am: Hatuma Road Memorial
9am: Cenotaph, Bridge Street, Ongaonga. 
9am: Tikokino Hall Cenotaph, Owen Street, Tikokino
9am: Church Hall, Pourerere Road, Omakere 
9am: Church Cenotaph, Kenderdine Road, Elsthorpe
10am: Cenotaph, Charlotte Street, Takapau
10.45am: Waipawa - Assemble at the CHB Municipal Theatre, Kenilworth Street, Waipawa for Civic Service at 11am before marching to Memorial Clock Tower Cenotaph. 

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