Anzac Day 2019 – Thursday 25 April

Anzac Day will be commemorated on Thursday 25 April. All our libraries will be closed on this public holiday. Read our page on Anzac Day and Gallipoli to find out more about this commemoration.

Anzac Day services

The following information is from Christchurch City Council:

Dawn Parade and Anzac Service

The Dawn Parade and Anzac Service will be held in Cranmer Square. The parade marches from the RSA building on Armagh Street.

  • 6am to 6.15am: People gather.
  • 6.15am: Parade begins from RSA.

Please avoid bringing a bag if possible to reduce delays getting into the event area. 

This event is organised by the Canterbury Branch of the Malayan Veterans Association in conjunction with the Christchurch Branch of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RSA) and Christchurch City Council.

Christchurch Citizen's Service

The Christchurch Citizen's Service will be held at the Transitional Cathedral in Latimer Square.

  • 9.45am: Please take your seats.
  • 10am: Service commences.

Subscribe to the Facebook event. This event is organised by Christchurch City Council in conjunction with Christchurch Cathedral and the RSA.

Anzac Day service at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand - 12pm

The Air Force Museum will be honouring airmen at their annual Anzac Day service on Thursday 25 April 2019 at 12pm. The service will be led by Chaplain Ken Diekema and held in the Conference and Events Hall. The beautiful poppy panels from the '5000 Poppies' World War One Centenary project will provide a fitting backdrop to the service, while the Salvation Army Band provides the musical accompaniment. The service will last around 45 minutes, and tea and coffee will be provided after the service. Find out more.

More Anzac Day services in Canterbury and Banks Peninsula

Find an Anzac Day Service - RSA.

  • Akaroa service 11.15am
  • Little River service 9.30am
  • Papanui RSA Anzac Day service 9.30am
  • Rangiora Civil Service 11.15am
  • Rangiora Public Anzac Day service 11am
  • Sumner Redcliffs Anzac Day service 11am
  • Waimakariri District Kaiapoi RSA 6.30am

Information from Newsline: Anzac services set for Christchurch area, 10 April 2019.

Exhibitions, displays, and events

Wartime Stories of our People - Upper Riccarton Library

This April, Upper Riccarton Library hosts Wartime Stories of our People - an exhibition of medical and personal objects that give an insight into the wartime lives of ordinary men and women who were charged with extraordinary tasks. These objects are brought to you in collaboration with Rannerdale Veterans Care and Cotter Medical History Museum. We hope they will spark conversations and inquiry into the rich resources our libraries hold regarding our ANZACs.

The exhibition is on until Sunday 28 April (the library is closed on Anzac Day for the public holiday).

Anzac Day display, Upper Riccarton Library. Wednesday 3 April 2019. Flickr 2019-04-03-URdisplay3
Anzac Day display, Upper Riccarton Library. Wednesday 3 April 2019. Flickr 2019-04-03-URdisplay3

Other libraries have Anzac Day displays. Tūranga has soldiers' stories on display and a computer featuring Online Cenotaph on the ground floor He Hononga | Connection by the Cathedral Square revolving doors.

You can remember someone who served by laying a poppy on their page on the Online Cenotaph. Find the serviceperson and click “lay a poppy”. Poppies will display on the site until Anzac Day. 

Find out more