Virus shall not weary us: Stand tall at dawn

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has urged Kiwis worldwide to stand at dawn as the country prepares to commemorate Anzac Day without traditional services.

Ardern yesterday said she would be one of many New Zealanders who would take part in the initiative, Stand At Dawn, tomorrow to commemorate Anzac Day.

‘‘The RSA has encouraged all of us to commemorate our service personnel by standing at the end of driveways or near our letterboxes at 6am – to stand at dawn.

‘‘I know how hard it will be, this year, our first Anzac Day in history where services have been cancelled due to Covid-19.

‘‘But that doesn’t mean we can’t show our support as a collective,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘As dawn breaks, we can stand at the end of those driveways . . . together in silence and pay tribute to those we should never forget.

‘‘We can still take time to pause, reflect and pay our respects to the people who have given so much to us.’’

Ardern asked all Kiwis worldwide to stand at their letterbox, front door, balcony, or essential place of work at 6am on April 25.

An official dawn service broadcast is also due to air on RNZ National radio at 6am tomorrow.

That would include an address by Minister of Defence and Minister for Veterans Ron Mark.

Previously, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association said that, alongside the New Zealand Defence Force, it would be hosting a virtual dawn service for the first time in its more than 100-year history for Anzac Day.

National president B J Clark said Anzac Day was one of the most important occasions for both Australians and New Zealanders.

‘‘Even though public Anzac services are unable to go ahead, it does not mean that the tradition of remembering and commemorating our veterans and service personnel should be cancelled too.’’