This year’s ANZAC commemorations include the traditional dawn service, parade and civic commemorations at the Cenotaph.

The rotation of marae for the dawn service will see Kutarere Marae host this year’s commemorations with the pōhiri at 6.30am followed by breakfast.

Ōpōtiki Returned Services Association will also host a parade and civic ceremony in the township, fall in at 10:20am at the RSA for the parade to the Cenotaph. Service and laying of wreaths from 11am.

Ōpōtiki Deputy Mayor, Shona Browne, invited the community to join the Ōpōtiki Returned Services Association to mark the important occasion.

“ANZAC Day is the one day that we gather as a nation to honour and remember all those brave men and women that gave their lives in order for us to live in freedom.

“As a small District, Ōpōtiki paid the ultimate price for this freedom. So many never returned. We must never forget their sacrifice and those of their families and loved ones they left behind.

“The names of those that lost their lives  are listed on our Cenotaph and on the many white crosses that adorn the Cenotaph area.  Those family names are familiar to many that still live in Ōpōtiki and District.

“Let’s also remember those that did return home wounded including loss of limbs in these campaigns. They carried that burden and horrors of War for the rest of their natural lives.

“So please spend some time on ANZAC DAY to remember the fallen and the price they paid for us their families to live in peace and free from War.

“‘We will remember them’,” Deputy Mayor Shona Browne says.

Please note, roads will be closed to vehicles for the parade and there will be traffic disruption for the morning of 25 April. Disability parking will be available in the Skatepark carpark on Potts Ave. Please be parked before the parade starts.

Upgrades to the Cenotaph space are ready in time for ANZAC Day services

The improvement works at the Ōpōtiki Cenotaph have been completed in time for ANZAC day services and have been given the thumbs up by Ōpōtiki RSA.

The upgrades to the Elliott Street / Potts Ave intersection (including the Cenotaph) are part of the Ōpōtiki Town Centre revitalisation project.

The area has been closed to through traffic for most of February to upgrade the pavements and kerbs, resurfacing and landscaping as well as a spruce up for the Cenotaph itself.

Ōpōtiki District Council’s Planning and Regulatory Group Manager, Gerard McCormack says that the area was looking tidy for ANZAC day and more improvements were scheduled for the coming planting season.

“We’re really pleased with how the area now looks – it provides an attractive and useable link between the town centre and the popular community spaces we’ve invested in down at Whitikau Reserve,” Gerard says.

“Sitting behind this is the acknowledgment that thriving town centres are essential for the wellbeing of communities.

“We don’t want to lose the vitality, busyness and the unique history of our CBD which is why we have been working on this town centre revitalisation project.

“Having great tenants like Te Wananga o Aotearoa and plenty of cafes and specialty shops make people want to come and spend time here – particularly now with this link to the reserve spaces.

“Really well done to the parks and reserves team and our contractors who have done a great job in time for ANZAC day.

More improvements will be underway (without the traffic disruption) during the winter planting months, particularly upgrading the gardens and surrounding areas.

District Support Advisor, Gavin Nicol says that it he had been working closely with council to make sure the works were complete in time for ANZAC commemorations and the area was looking better than it had for some time.

“It’s a really significant part of our town and its important that it looks its best, particularly at this time of year. I’m rapt to finally get that work done and have the money spent on the area to get it looking its best.

“Ōpōtiki has a long history of service and it is important to our veterans and their whānau to see their sacrifices marked respectfully and with pride.

“Some time ago I noted that our Cenotaph doesn’t have any te reo Māori on it anywhere and the new plaques are a chance to set that right – we have a local translation of the hymn ‘Mansions of the Lord’ now added.

“They look a little different to the existing plaques but that is intentional because it is important to note that times change and our monuments change with them,” Gavin says.

The RSA and Ōpōtiki District Council encourage the community this Anzac day to remember and acknowledge our servicepeople, their families and the sacrifices that have been made for us to live our lives in peace.