Anzac Day live updates: National Commemoration Service ...

The country’s National Anzac Day Commemoration Service in Wellington has been cancelled due to strong winds buffeting the capital.

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage said the “unfortunate” decision to cancel the 11am event at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park had been made for the health and safety of veterans, visitors and guests.

Auckland native Lois Stephens prolonged her trip in Wellington to attend the ceremony and said it was a shame it was cancelled. “They’re probably putting public safety first.”

She and her 13-year-old son Jack still made the effort to visit the site to pay tribute to Jack’s great grandfather who fought for the British Army in the second World War. He donned his medals with pride today.

A small, reduced service was moved indoors to escape the wind, with veterans and officials invited into the Hall of Memories.

Officials laid wreathes in front of the focal point of the hall - a bronze statue of a mother with her children designed to convey the suffering and burden carried by families during and after times of war.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro delivered her Anzac address to about 100 people at the reduced but intimate service.

With the passage of time, the focus of our remembrance has broadened to recognise the service and sacrifice of all those who have served New Zealand in armed conflict and global peacekeeping efforts, Kiro said.

She said New Zealand had been involved in more than 40 peace keeping operations in more than 25 countries over the past seven decades.

”This Anzac Day, as we reflect on our service personnel’s reputation for courage and steadfastness - a legacy forged at Gallipoli - let us also take pride in New Zealand’s continued willingness to do what is necessary for international peace and security.

”In doing so, we can collectively honour the legacy of our ANZACs and our nation’s shared ongoing and commitment to peace.”

At the end of the service the Last Post sounded before a minute’s silence was held and those gathered sang Australia and New Zealand’s national anthems.

The Atatürk Memorial Wreath-laying Service in Strathmore this afternoon has also been cancelled because of the wind.

The cancellation of today’s services didn’t however stop anti-war protesters from attending with banners referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Wellington’s iconic Bucket Fountain has also been targeted by protesters, with the water dyed red and posters stuck to its frame.

“Judaism is peace, Zionism is violence”, “No glory in war, No pride in genocide” and “Don’t glorify war” are some of the messages displayed on the posters.

Earlier today, thousands attended dawn services across the country.

The day of remembrance falls on the anniversary of the landing on the now Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli by New Zealand and Australian troops in 1915, part of an ultimately unsuccessful military campaign for the Allies which cost 130,000 lives over 10 months, among them 2779 Kiwis.

In our largest city, the Anzac Day Dawn Service began at 6am at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Auckland Domain, while Vector lights on the Auckland Harbour Bridge were lit in poppy-red.

Free remembrance tours would be open to the public until 5pm, and those looking to the sky today might spot the New Zealand Warbirds Association doing a flyover with their trademark billowing smoke.

Settled weather is expected across the city today, where dozens of Anzac Day events are planned, with cloud expected to clear to sunshine by this afternoon, and temperatures ranging from a low of 14C to a high of 20C.

Similar conditions are expected across the North Island, but MetService said rain would dominate further south in Queenstown and Invercargill.

Conditions were changeable in other main centres, with Wellington tipped for isolated showers in the morning and a high of 17C. Christchurch should see a mainly fine day with a high of 22C and Dunedin should start with some cloud and a high of 18C.

Around the middle of the country; in Wellington, Kāpiti Coast, Marlborough, and exposed parts of inland Otago, Southland and the Canterbury High Country, gales were forecast with several wind watches and warnings in place.

By Kymberlee Gomes of RNZ

On Anzac Day, most shops need to stay shut until 1pm.

There are just three and a half days a year on which the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 prevents most shopping: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and the first half of Anzac Day.

What’s open?

Exemptions apply to a few places, which are allowed to open:

Shops without exemptions must stay closed on the first half of April 25.

Mondayisation does not affect shop trading restrictions because they apply only to the calendar date of Anzac Day.

Retailers can be fined up to $1000 if they open illegally.

Some bars, cafes and restaurants can sell alcohol, as long as it is accompanied by a meal.

Cafes and restaurants can choose to add a surcharge for opening on the morning of Anzac Day.

The surcharge covered the additional cost of wages on a public holiday, Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said.

“Typically, surcharges range from 10-15 per cent.

“Some businesses incorporate the extra costs of operating on public holidays into their annual operating expenses. This approach allows them to spread the recovery of these costs over the course of the year, rather than imposing a surcharge specifically on public holidays,” Bidois said.

Whether cafes opened on Anzac Day morning would depend on their location and customer habits.

“To avoid surprises, diners should confirm whether a surcharge applies either ahead of time or upon arrival. Most establishments will inform customers of any additional fees through visible signage.”

The Commerce Commission has also said establishments must make it well-known to customers that a surcharge will be payable before they decide to buy or engage the service.

“It must be clearly disclosed, for example, by adding information to their website for online sales or placing a sign outside,” the commission says on its website.

“In addition, the reason for any surcharge must be accurately described and must not be capable of misleading consumers. The surcharge should not exceed those costs, and the costs should actually be incurred by the business.”