On Saturday, 25 April 2026, Nelson will mark ANZAC Day with a series of public services and commemorations.
These events offer a chance to reflect, remember, and honour those who served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.
From the dawn service at ANZAC Park to civic ceremonies across the region, locals are invited to take part in these meaningful events.
ANZAC Dawn Service
📍 ANZAC Park, Nelson
🕠 5:30am – 7:00am
The march assembles at Paru Paru Road (Trafalgar Centre car park) — and heads to ANZAC Park for the traditional dawn service.
Free to attend. Donations to the RSA via the national poppy appeal are welcome.
A central part of Nelson ANZAC Day services.
Wreath Laying Ceremonies
Short, peaceful wreath laying and commemorations led by the Nelson RSA — a quieter way to mark ANZAC Day.
No bookings needed. Donations welcome.
🕗 8:00am – Wakapuaka Servicemen’s Cemetery
🕣 8:30am – Queen’s Gardens (Boer War Statue)
🕘 9:00am – Pikimai War Memorial, Cathedral Hill
🕙 10:00am – Marsden Valley Servicemen’s Cemetery
🕙 10:00am – Wakefield Cenotaph
Civic ANZAC Day Service
📍 Christ Church Cathedral
🕚 11:00am – 12:00pm
This is Nelson’s official civic service – organised by local civic groups, it provides a respectful space to reflect and remember. The ceremony includes speeches, wreath laying, and a moment of silence.
Free to attend. Donations to the RSA via the poppy appeal are welcome.
The service was previously held at Nayland College, for 2026 this has now been changed to Christ Church Cathedral.
Richmond Service
Parade from Sundial Square at 10:45am.
Service at War Memorial Gardens, Cambridge Street, at 11:00am.
Road closures (10:00 am – 12:30 pm):
- Queen Street – Sundial Square to McIndoe Place
- Cambridge Street – Oxford Street to Queen Street
- Oxford Street – 38 Oxford Street to Gladstone Road (SH6)
Bus stop: Temporary stop on Talbot Street outside PAK’nSAVE.
Access: Memorial remains accessible for disabled and aged visitors via Oxford Street.
Richmond Dawn Service
This year there will also be a dawn service in Richmond organised by Arvida Waimea Plains Village.
📍 455 Lower Queen Street, Richmond
🕚 6:00am (music from 5:30am)
Enter via the main entrance (left just before the new bridge), then walk to the Village Green by the flagpole.
Parking is on Lower Queen Street or at the Headingly Centre and Pinnacle House.
Please bring a chair if needed (no public seating). Dress warmly. Floral tributes welcome at the end of the service.
ANZAC Concert
📍 Christ Church Cathedral
🕚 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Tickets Available Here
This concert forms part of Nelson’s ANZAC Day commemorations, featuring music reflecting themes of love, loss, and remembrance. The programme spans spirituals, Mozart, Verdi, and waiata in te reo, with songs in multiple languages.
Pianist Louis Lucas-Perry performs a solo piece, with violinist Juliet Ayre as guest soloist. Conducted by Rosemary Galton.
ANZAC Day Flypast
Typically there will be a series of military flypasts taking place around the country. Auckland has a flypast by the NZ Warbirds Association Inc, but it looks like Nelson will not have a flypast this year.
Last year for Nelson there was an ANZAC Day flyover by a P-8A Poseidon from No. 5 Squadron.
The aircraft departed from its base at Ohakea, heading out to Golden Bay, over Nelson and Picton, then on to Christchurch and Dunedin before returning home.
Lest we forget.