Resilient Anzac service needs community help
The casual atmosphere is part of the appeal of the Anzac service at Remembrance Reserve. Photo, Andy Dunn
Attendance at Anzac services at Ōrewa Remembrance Reserve has been growing over the years.
Residents say in the early days around 80 people took part, but recent ceremonies have attracted as many as 200.
A service has been held annually on the reserve for at least 15 years and locals seem determined to keep it going. It took place despite police warnings after the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019, and even during lockdown last year.
The reserve, on Ōrewa Beach, was designed to be a place where the community could pay their respects to veterans in a more informal way. It features plaques in memory of servicemen, and a flagpole erected around five years ago.