About 400 people attended Armistice Day services around Otago yesterday.
Consistent with Anzac Day trends, people from the very young to the very old took part in services marking the 96th anniversary of when the guns fell silent at the end of World War 1.
Speakers noted services were more significant this year, marking the centenary of the beginning of the conflict.
Queenstown-Arrowtown
About 80 people attended an Armistice Day service at the Arrowtown War Memorial on Soldiers Hill.
Among them were 25 present or former servicemen and servicewomen, schoolchildren and members of the Arrowtown Scout Group.
The brief ceremony began with a piper's lament and concluded with service personnel laying poppies on the memorial. As well as marking the end of World War 1, it commemorated the men of the district who have lost their lives in conflicts since the Boer War.
Arrowtown RSA president John Lindsay said the Arrowtown and Queenstown branches had held a combined Armistice Day service at the memorial since 1995.
''New Zealand's a small country, and we lost a lot of soldiers overseas at that time,'' he said.
Presiding over the ceremony was Arrowtown's branch chaplain, the Rev Chris Tweddell, who told those attending that the conflicts New Zealand had participated in had forged connectivity.
The service was followed by lunch at the Arrowtown Bowling Club.
Oamaru
About 60 people were at the brief 11am ceremony, which included the laying of three wreaths.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and past president of the Otago-Southland RSA John Longman spoke.
Palmerston
Two hundred people, including pupils from Palmerston Primary School and East Otago High School, attended the service led by Palmerston-Waihemo RSA members Dave Campbell and Tom Price.
The public support today was excellent and Mr Campbell hoped the service would be held on November 11 each year from now on.
Wanaka
About 45 people attended the Armistice Day service at the Wanaka War Memorial yesterday.
The service was led by Wanaka man Major Ian Piercy, who is based in Christchurch as planning officer for 2/4 Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry.
Guest speaker was Luke Burke (14), of Mount Aspiring College, who spoke of soldiers' sense of duty and acts of courage and endurance abroad.
''What is really important for us to remember is what they endured for our liberty ... young or not so young, we must give thanks on this remembrance day to those who lost their lives, who were injured, scarred or blinded.''
Cromwell
About 80 people attended the Armistice Day service at the Cromwell War Memorial yesterday.
Cromwell RSA president John Morton said the ''fairly small'' service was attended by RSA members and family, members of 2/4 Battalion New Zealand Infantry, and about 20 members of the police force.
Following an address by Mr Morton, a prayer was held, before the Last Post was sounded, and a piper played a lament.
A wreath was then laid on the war memorial by Mr Morton and a member from the 2/4 Battalion.
Other centres held services at the weekend.
