Councils, community groups, and local Returned Service Associations (RSAs) have worked together to organise dawn and civic ceremonies, providing opportunities for reflection and remembrance.
Mayor Mahé Drysdale, who will deliver the welcome at the Tauranga Civic Service, says Anzac Day is a meaningful opportunity for reflection and unity.
"On Anzac Day, communities around New Zealand come together to honour those who served, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and acknowledge the contributions of our returned and current service personnel. I encourage everyone to attend a service and pay tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.”
Cadets from the Air Force, Army, and Navy at the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service at Memorial Park in 2024. Photo credit, Simon Dawson Photography.
The Tauranga Dawn Service will hold special significance this year as the Tauranga RSA prepares to host its final service at its Cameron Road site before relocating. Since 1918, the Tauranga RSA has played a vital role in supporting returned servicemen and their families, making this year’s service a significant moment for the community.
The Tauranga RSA has hosted dawn services at its present site since 2009, and this year’s event will be a poignant moment of reflection on its legacy. The service will feature a special address, participation from HMNZS Te Mana, and support from the New Zealand Defence Force’s Hauraki unit, reinforcing the strong connection between past and present service personnel.
Tauranga RSA President Morton Anderson, who served 21 years in the New Zealand Navy, emphasises the importance of community involvement in Anzac Day commemorations.
"It’s important to keep the memory alive, to pay respects to those who served and those who never made it home. These events are not just about remembering history, they’re about ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made.”
Some of the team at the Tauranga RSA standing in front of the Tauranga RSA Cenotaph on the Cameron Road site, Fred Milligan (Chairman Support Trust), Lyn Thomas (District Support Advisor), Tricia Hague (District Support Manager), Duncan Poole (Vice President and Local Support Advisor), and Morton Anderson (President). Photo supplied.
John Clark, a Royal Navy WWII veteran and long-standing member of the Tauranga RSA, will mark a remarkable milestone this year - his 100th birthday on Anzac Day. John plans to attend the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service on 25 April to honour his fellow servicemen and women.
In honour of this significant birthday, his family will also be holding a special Anzac Day service for him, where he will be presented with a meaningful gift.
“Anzac Day is very poignant for John, as he reflects on the war and the terrible loss of life. He remembers some names of past friends on Anzac Day with great sadness as they lost their lives at a young age, never seeing their families grow up,” says his family.
Royal Navy, World War II veteran John Clark stands in front of the Tauranga RSA Cenotaph following the Anzac Parade in 2015. John enlisted in March 1942, just before his 17th birthday, and served aboard HMS Suffolk as a signalman and telegraphist during the war. Photo supplied.
Over the past few years, council support and volunteer efforts have strengthened Anzac commemorations with improved sound systems, growing community participation, and increased cadet involvement. Many services now involve students from local schools and flag escorts from cadets representing the Air Force, Army, and Navy.
As the Tauranga RSA prepares to relocate and combine locations with the Mount Maunganui RSA, the organisation remains committed to strengthening support for veterans and their families. They have been instrumental in broader community initiatives, including donating a van to Maketu School, providing a car to the Tauranga Women's Refuge, and supporting ex-service members and their immediate families with welfare assistance.
Future initiatives include enhancing Remembrance Day commemorations, supporting cadet forces, and funding community projects. Anderson also expressed his gratitude to past and present Tauranga RSA members and volunteers, whose dedication has kept the spirit of remembrance alive in Tauranga.
Anzac Day 2025 service schedule:
A free park and ride service, courtesy of Tauranga City Council, is available for the Tauranga Civic Memorial Service and the Mount Maunganui Dawn Service.
Pāpāmoa Memorial Dawn Service
Service start time: 6am
Dawn Parade timetable:
- 5.30am: Assemble at Event Car Parking Area, Stella Place
- 5.55am: March off
- 6am: Service begins
Location: Pāpāmoa Memorial, Stella Place beach car park, Pāpāmoa Beach Road
Mount Maunganui Dawn Service
Service start time: 6am
Dawn Parade timetable:
- 5.45am: Assemble at Hopukiore, Mount Drury
- 5.55am: March off
- 6am: Service begins
Location: Mount Maunganui Cenotaph, Marine Parade (opposite Hopukiore, Mount Drury)
Free Park and Ride: Park on Kawaka Street (behind Blake Park) and catch the free bus to Maunganui Road (behind Hopukiore - Mount Drury Reserve). Buses depart from Kawaka Street (opposite Club Mount Maunganui) between 5am - 5.50am. Return buses run after the dawn service between 6.15am - 7.30am. All buses are accessible for people with limited mobility.
Tauranga Dawn Service
Service start time: 6am
Dawn Parade timetable:
- 5.45am: Assemble at Hayes Avenue
- 5.55am: March off
- 6am: Service begins
Location: Tauranga RSA Cenotaph, 1237 Cameron Road
Tauranga Civic Memorial Service
Service start time: 9am
Civic Parade timetable:
- 8.45am: Parade assemble on the grass beside Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre
- 8.55am: March off
- 9am: Service begins
Location: Memorial Park, Eleventh Avenue
Free Park and Ride: Park at Tauranga Boys’ College car park on Devonport Road and bus to Memorial Park. Buses depart from the bus bays on Devonport Road, right outside the school between, 8am - 8.40am. Return buses depart straight after the service from the bus stop outside the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre. All buses are accessible for people with limited mobility.
Wet weather location: The 9am service will take place indoors at Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre should poor weather prevent an outside gathering at Memorial Park.
- Wreath laying is available for this service.
Mount Maunganui Civic Memorial Service
Service start time: 9.30am
Civic parade timetable:
- 9.15am: Assemble at Mount Drury Reserve, Hopukiore
- 9.25am: March off
- 9.30am: Service begins
Location: Mount Maunganui Cenotaph, Marine Parade (opposite Mount Drury Reserve, Hopukiore)
Pyes Pā Remembrance Service
Start time: 11am
Location: Pyes Pā Cemetery, 403 Pyes Pā Road
Tauranga Moana Tumatauenga Anzac Commemorations
Start time: 5.45am
Location: Poututerangi Marae, 26 Pitua Road, Te Puna
There will be road closures for the Tauranga Civic Memorial and Mount Maunganui Dawn Services. For more detailed information on Anzac Day Services in Tauranga, please visit Tauranga City Council's website.