Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Wellington 2015 ANZAC Day Centenary Commemoration in Pictures
Wellington 2015 ANZAC Day Centenary Commemoration in Pictures
Roughly 18,000 people gathered this morning at Pukeahu Memorial Park for the Anzac day centenary. Anticipating the large turnout, patrons arrived as early as 4.30. It was virtually impossible to get near the Memorial after 5am. By 6, the crowds on Taranaki Street had stretched as far back as the Z Petrol station.
The screens erected around the park displayed the live events to those who had turned up. The heat generated by the huge number of people caused many to take a turn. Medics and ambulances were on hand for the fainting crowd members. Only twenty minutes into the ceremony, one medic said they had already dealt with 15 to 20 spells.
The ceremony was carried out with a solemn, respectful quiet from the crowd. There were no protests on the day and it appeared police had only to deal with the occasional drunk straggler on their way home from Courtenay Place.
Grant Robertson said that the ceremony had gone really well and that it was great to see Pukeahu Memorial Park fulfil its purpose.
Crowds arriving at 5am.
The Crowd at Taranaki Street.
Screens were erected nearby the park for the huge turnout.
View from Arthur Street.
Lone soldier makes his way down Arthurs Street.
View from the Museum steps
Wreaths laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Soldier takes post before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The roughly 18,000 strong crowd dissipates
Grant Roberston pays his respects
The dawn over Pukeahu Memorial
Park
Francis Cook
Reporter
Francis studied History, gaining a first class honours in 2014. He is interested in politics, music and popular culture. His thesis looked at nuclear themes in Japanese film history.
Ramzy Baroud: The World Owes Palestine This Much - Please Stop Censoring Palestinian Voices
Dee Ninis, The Conversation: Why Vanuatu Should Brace For Even More Aftershocks After This Week’s Deadly Quakes: A Seismologist Explains
Martin LeFevre - Meditations: Meditation Without A Method
Ramzy Baroud: Israel To Annex The West Bank – Why Now? And What Are The Likely Scenarios?
Binoy Kampmark: The Strawman Of Antisemitism - Banning Protests Against Israel Down Under
Gordon Campbell: On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery