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Anzac Day Services at Gallipoli next month cancelled

Staff Reporter
Auckland, March 18, 2020

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (File Picture)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that the New Zealand and Australian governments have decided to cancel this year’s joint ANZAC Day services at Gallipoli due to COVID-19.

ANZAC Day this year falls on April 25, 2020.

She said that cancellation covers the Anzac Dawn Service, the Australian Lone Pine Service and the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair.

“Turkish authorities who host the events have been advised,” she said.

The Gallipoli Anzac Day services are jointly organised by Australia and New Zealand under an agreement between the two governments.

“The Gallipoli services in particular have become a pilgrimage of sorts for many New Zealanders. But with global travel restrictions and isolation requirements in place in most countries it is simply not practical to hold this year’s event,” Ms Ardern said.

Defence Minister Ron Mark said that cancellation of an Anzac Day commemoration, in particular Gallipoli, would normally be considered unimaginable, given the reverence in which we hold our ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice there.

“But then, these are unimaginable times and just as they sought to protect our people, so must we,” Mr Mark said.

Gallipoli is the biggest overseas Anzac Day commemoration that New Zealand jointly conducts with Australia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade leads on other commemorations in capitals across the world, and decisions on these are being made on a case by case basis.

The New Zealand government has not made any decision on Anzac Day commemorations here.

Services would need to be held in accordance with the Government’s new guidelines on public gatherings. The Government will be discussing this further with the RSA in coming weeks.

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