Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live online coverage of Anzac Day 2021.
The public holiday marks the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
People throughout the two countries are preparing to fall silent in remembrance of those who fought for our freedoms.
For a full guide to Anzac Day services and parades throughout New Zealand including times and locations, click here.
These live updates have finished.
12:00pm - The whole of Arrowtown has joined the band marching in memory of the ANZAC's.
Hundreds turned up at the town hall at 10:30am followed by the procession down the main street.
Newshub's Lydia Lewis says this morning, the bustling town has taken a break to remember and stand together.
"Last year, Arrowtown was adorned with poppies but everyone had to stay home to save lives. Today everyone stands together."
11:50am - Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy has marked Anzac Day in a video message with her Australian Counterpart.
"Despite the pandemic, people found a way to mark the day," she said.
"In towns and cities across our countried, people rose at dawn and ventured down their driveway to stand and honour the service of our forebears.
"We showed out commitment to honouring the Anzac legacy by taking time to stop, remember and say a quiet 'thank you' to those who have sacrificed themselves for our nations."
11:00am - National Anzac Day rememberance service is underway in Wellington.
The service is held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on Buckle Street.
Click here to find an Anzac Day service around you.
10:20am - New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia Annette King, her husband Ray Lind, NZ Defence Force Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies and Captain Shaun Fogarty representing NZ at the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Canberra.
9:50am - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent a message to mark Anzac Day to the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions in London.
The Duke of Cambridge said in his message: "This Anzac Day, Catherine and I join Australians and New Zealanders across the world to remember and honour the service men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps."
A video posted on Twitter shows the Duke handing over a signed message of thanks to the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions in London, along with some anzac biscuits.
9:40am - Gordon Sutherland attended Sunday's Anzac Day national service in Wellington.
Sutherland is a Korean War veteran and says he's attended commemoration services his entire life.
"My connection goes back 80 years from when I was a wee boy, my father served in the first World War and I attended services from when I was four," he told Newshub.
"I was born in 1927. I was born on Armistice Day and I'm still here today."
Sutherland says he's thankful he was able to experience so much.
"When I came back to New Zealand, I couldn't believe how green it was," he laughed.
"And it was lovely to be back home."
9:15am - Jacinda Ardern has commemorated those who have fought for New Zealand in the past, and those who serve in the present.
"This year the theme for ANZAC services around the country is 'service and sacrifice' with a particular focus on the role of women who have served," the Prime Minister wrote on Facebook.
"Tho all those who have given so much, and to those who serve in the present - thank you. We may call on your commitment, but may we do all we can to prevent war and conflict so we never call on you to make the ultimate sacrifice."
9:00am - 2500 returnees are experiencing Anzac Day in managed isolation (MIQ) but some have woken to a bugler.
The 33 guests in Hamilton's Jet Park MIQ hotel heard the hotel's groundsman, Robert, play 'The Last Post' in an early morning service.
Hotel Manager David Latu said hotel staff also prepared hot chocolates and Anzac biscuits for their guests.
Read the full article here.
8:50am - In Australia, Anzac Day services and marches are being held across all cities and towns except for Perth, which is in a three-day lockdown.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced a snap lockdown on Friday in response to a case of community transmission.
He is urging people to take part in a driveway dawn service instead.
"I encourage everyone to take part in the driveway dawn serice again this year, and I will do that again," McGowan said.
"We will monitor this very closely here and continue to assess the situation as more information comes to light."
Read the full article here.
8:30am - Palmerston North held a Dawn Service at 5:30am this morning. A civic service and parade will also be held at 9:30am on Main Street.
Palmerston North City Councillor Lorna Johnson also wants to acknowledge those serving in the country's managed isolation facilities.
For a full list of Anzac Day services and parades throughout New Zealand, click here.
8:15am - Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies is representing NZ at the Anzac Service in Canberra, thanks to the trans-Tasman bubble.
Air Vice-Marshal Davies will be at the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath at the Dawn Service and attend the national Anzac Service as a way of reconnecting with allies.
Read the article here.
8:00am - Anzac Day has been fine and mainly dry for most of the country.
Metservice forecased a "mixed bag" of weather across the country this weekend, most Anzac services will stay "mainly dry" with chilly temperatures hitting the south.
Newshub's Ella Prendergast, who attended the Auckland Dawn Service says there was a little rain as the crowds gathered, but it gave way to a clear morning once the service got underway.
Read the full weather forecast here.
7:45am - Chief of the NZ Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short says the ANZAC Day dawn service this year has been extremely enlightening.
"Today, because the weather's been so good, it feels quite enlightening," he told Newshub's Alexa Cook at the Wellington Dawn Service.
"I just think about last year when we all stood at our front gates, and this just reminds me how many people care about those who have served, those who have sacrificed."
7:15am - Anzac Day will be marked very differently by Defence Force staff working in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities.
More than 1000 personnel are working at 32 MIQ facilities across New Zealand.
MIQ head Brigadier Jim Bliss says they will still honour the occasion.
"They'll be taking the opportunity where they can amongst their daily routine and work to reflect - just take a pause in their day before carrying on with their duties," he told Newshub.
7:10am - Speaking from the Auckland Dawn Service, Newshub's Ella Prendergast said many had braved the cold weather.
"Many who Newshub spoke to say the turnout appears thinner than usual," she said. "Some suspect it has to do with COVID-19 concerns while others wonder if people are opting for a sleep-in after last night's Eden Park Six60 concert."
7am - In Wellington, 10,000 came together where Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy noted how lucky New Zealanders were to be able to commemorate Anzac Day with others this year.
"We're indeed fortunate that, today, we can stand side-by-side once more," Dame Patsy said.
6:45am - Speaking at Auckland's Dawn Service earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted the courage and compassion of those who served in the most "appalling" conditions.
6:30am - Newshub's Alexa Cook says about 10,000 people are in attendance at Wellington's Dawn Service.
6:20am - A reminder New Zealand's official Anzac Day national remembrance service will be held from 11am at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
6:15am - Speaking at the Auckland service, war historian Stephen Clarke acknowledged those still serving.
"We remember the sacrifice New Zealand servicemen and women, and their families, continue to make," Dr Clarke said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones."
6:10am - Rain is forecast in many parts of New Zealand this Anzac Day. Click here for a full forecast.
6:05am - Speaking from the Auckland Dawn Service, Newshub's Ella Prendergast says the rain is holding off in the city. Forecasters had predicted occasional rain in Tāmaki Makaurau on Sunday.
"Crowds of people are paying their respects under the red glow of the war memorial museum," Prendergast says. "It's a smaller turnout than usual despite being the first service in two years.
"Last year, people marked the occasion under COVID-19 restrictions by standing at the ends of their driveways."
6am - New Zealanders throughout the country are rising early for Anzac Day dawn services.
People are making the most of the opportunity after last year's gatherings were cancelled by the national COVID-19 lockdown.
In Auckland, thousands have gathered at the domain. You can watch the Tāmaki Makaurau service live in the video above.
5:40am - Coverage of Auckland's Dawn Service is underway - you can watch it live in the video above.
5:30am - For a full guide to Anzac Day services and parades throughout New Zealand including times and locations, click here.
5:15am - Veterans assembled near the Auckland War Memorial Museum at 4:30am for the Dawn Service in Auckland. You can watch the service live in the video above from 5:40am.
