New Plymouth war veterans are hurt and angry after a New Zealand flag was stolen from the Cenotaph during Anzac commemorations.
The flag was stolen from its removable wooden pole after the dawn service -- sometime between 6.45 and 9.15am, The Taranaki Daily News reported.
New Plymouth District Returned Services Association senior vice president Graeme Lowe said the theft was the most hurtful insult possible to all servicemen and their families.
"I felt like crying to be quite honest, " he said.
"It was absolutely gut-wrenching.
"It's a flag that all the servicemen went away and fought under and some died under, that's why it's so significant to us."
At the end of the dawn service most veterans and their families went to the New Plymouth Club for drinks.
At 9.15am Mr Lowe returned to the cenotaph to ensure everything was in order for the civic service and noticed the flag was missing.
He said the theft was "beyond comprehension" and the reaction from fellow servicemen was "not very printable".
New Plymouth police came to the rescue and offered their flag so the ceremony could go ahead as planned.
Sergeant Kayanna Holley said officers went door knocking yesterday to see if anyone saw anything suspicious.
