Guns, silence and cacophony in capital

WELLINGTON: A 10gun salute at the Wellington waterfront with soldiers firing each of 10 guns, stationed outside Te Papa, 10 times, was among national commemorations of the World War 1 Armistice yesterday.

The guns fell silent at 11am as they did 100 years ago.

Following the twominute silence at 11am, there was a cacophony of sound to replicate how the public responded to news of the Armistice in 1918.

At the same time, hundreds turned out for a service held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and GovernorGeneral Dame Patsy Reddy.

In Auckland, a remembrance service included a flypast by three World War 1 aircraft.

A small service with soldiers was held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park at dawn.

The Remembrance Wreath was carried by members of the defence force and was laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Medals were also placed on the tomb, followed by a waiata and Last Post to finish the ceremony.

Christchurch’s Cranmer Square was covered with thousands of crosses to remember those who died in World War 1.

A parade was held at Christchurch’s Bridge of Remembrance at 10.55am.

The commemorations finished at 7.30pm with a Sunset Ceremony at Pukeahu Park.

The final Last Post of the centenary was played at 8.15pm. — RNZ