On this day in 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps took their first steps into a new country and a prolonged and doomed battle.

They left behind wives, sisters, brothers, parents and children. They did so for all of us.

The men who landed at Anzac Cove that day could not have foreseen how this date would become embedded in the consciousness of future generations.

The Gallipoli campaign saw the highest percentage of casualties of any military campaign in New Zealand’s history. Of eight and a half thousand New Zealanders who served there, nearly five thousand were wounded and over two and a half thousand lost their lives.

As the Gallipoli campaign unfolded, the Anzacs had to come to terms with a reality we can hardly imagine. Day and night, no-one was ever safe. Even between battles, people died from sniper fire, sometimes mid-sentence. There was little food or water, and no sanitation. Soldiers had to learn to make their own hand-grenades out of empty jam tins.

On Anzac Day New Zealanders reflect on the start of a campaign that was in many ways disastrous for the New Zealand and Australian forces. Why, then, despite these disasters, do we identify so strongly with this day?

Perhaps it is because it was at Gallipoli that we encountered the very worst that war could throw at us. Because we got through with honour and humanity intact. And, because, though our men came out battle-wary and horribly reduced in numbers, both New Zealand and Australia emerged with a new sense of certainty about our place in the world, and a friendship that would survive the years.

The courage of the Anzacs humbles us all. And it reminds us of the strength within each of us, our capacity to meet fear with courage, and to meet adversity with endurance.

Anzac Day is our day to honour all New Zealanders who have served in times of war. And in particular to acknowledge the veterans of wars still living among us, living links to formative events in our history. We remember the servicemen who fought in theatres of war throughout the world– in the Pacific, Asia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Atlantic Ocean.

This year there is a special significance as we mark the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War Two. In that war 11,625 New Zealanders were killed, a further blow to families and communities around the country, only a generation after ‘the war to end all wars’.

It is a privilege to be in the presence of some of our veterans today, and to be in the presence of your children and grandchildren.

I am inspired to see the large numbers of young New Zealanders who are standing shoulder to shoulder with those who fought in these times of war. I know that this will be repeated up and down the country, as ANZAC Day unites generations of Kiwis and binds us to our history as a country.

Today we mark our proud history of sacrifice and heroism, we remember those men and women who put their lives on the line for our country, and who fought for a better world.

To this day we send the young men and women of our New Zealand Defence Force to the world’s trouble spots in the knowledge that they will continue to serve their country with courage and dedication.

On our behalf they take part in efforts to keep peace, to create secure environments for humanitarian support and to rebuild infrastructure in areas of conflict.

Today we acknowledge their service.

As we lay these wreathes together let us reflect on our ties to each other and our shared pride in our country. Let us reflect on what is to be a New Zealander. And let us remember the large and small acts of kindness that our fellow country men have performed for us in years gone by, and that they still perform for us today.

Let us celebrate the Anzac spirit we continue to share with our Australian neighbours. For we who were brothers in arms are brothers still.

Finally today let us salute the Anzacs who fought for us.

We salute their willingness to fight to preserve our freedom and humanitarian ideals.

We salute their willingness to meet adversity with courage and honour.

They were everyday people who rose to heights of sacrifice and, in doing so, preserved the living standards of all of us, for generations to come.

They fought for each and every one of us, they fought for New Zealand, and they fought for our world.

That is why we have gathered here today.

That is why we honour them.

That is why we must never forget.

Social Media