Cantabrians can pick up their poppy from collection boxes throughout their communities or during the street appeal.
Street collectors will be selling poppies across the region, including Christchurch, Selwyn, Ashburton, Waimakariri and Hurunui, tomorrow.
But you will notice something a little different when you donate during this year’s appeal - the RNZRSA is introducing a new sustainable poppy.
For more than 50 years, the familiar red plastic-based poppy has been worn proudly by New Zealanders to honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans.
Now the RNZRSA has a new poppy made entirely from biodegradable paper.
RNZRSA national president Tony Hill said the new poppy reflects both the importance of remembrance and the organisation’s commitment to responsible and ethical practices.
“The poppy is one of the most powerful symbols of remembrance we have.
"While its meaning will never change, the way we produce it needed to evolve.
"This new poppy allows us to continue the tradition New Zealanders know and love, while making sure it is more sustainable and responsibly sourced for the future."
The new poppy is made from paper using a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources, including material recovered from the waste generated in the production of coffee cups.
Unlike the previous plastic-based poppy, the new design is completely biodegradable. The change follows the retirement of the specialised machinery used by volunteers to produce the original poppies in Christchurch, alongside growing concerns about the environmental impact of plastic poppies left at memorials and cemeteries.
In 2026, RNZRSA collectors will be offering two types of poppies to the public: The traditional plastic poppy that New Zealanders have worn for decades as remaining stock is used up, and the new sustainable paper poppy.
Hill says both poppies carry the same meaning.
“Whether you receive the familiar plastic poppy or the new sustainable version, it represents the same thing; our collective gratitude for those who served and sacrificed for our country.”
Car and truck poppies are also now available at the RNZRSA's webstore - rsa.boostwebstore.co.nz
In Canterbury, collectors will be outside most of the supermarkets, The Warehouse, Farmers and at tables on several streets.
The RNZRSA’s national fundraiser remains one of New Zealand’s most enduring fundraising campaigns and provides the donations needed for local RSAs to continue providing support, advocacy and assistance to all veterans of military service and their whānau in the cities and districts they are collected in.
Joblin also has fond memories of attending Anzac Day parades.
"I have been involved in Anzac Day parades ever since I started playing the Last Post while I was still at primary school.
"Today the RSA is asking for people's help to continue providing the services they do to help former service men and women from all branches of the New Zealand Defence Forces."
History of the Poppy Appeal
2023 marked 101 years since the first Poppy Appeal was held.
In 1921, Colonel Samuel Moffat, Madam Guerin’s poppy emissary, visited New Zealand to promote the concept of selling poppies to both commemorate the fallen and raise funds to assist living veterans.
As a result of his visit, the RSA ordered 360,000 French-made poppies to sell in New Zealand to mark Remembrance Day on 11 November that year.
Legend has it that shipping delays meant that the poppies arrived too late to be sold for Remembrance Day so the RSA decided to sell them in advance of Anzac Day instead.
On April 24, 1922, the first Poppy Day was held making New Zealand the only nation of the First World War allies not to mark Poppy Day in November, in conjunction with Remembrance Day.
Poppy Day is normally held on the Friday closest to Anzac Day, RSAs throughout New Zealand assemble teams of volunteers who line the streets in towns and cities across New Zealand collecting donations in exchange for poppies.
The poppies are all manufactured by volunteers in Christchurch and it is an almost yearlong job to make the close to one million poppies required to support the Poppy Appeal.
2020 was the only year a street appeal wasn’t held after the Covid lockdown forced the collection to be cancelled. An online appeal was conducted in its place, meaning the Poppy Appeal remains the longest continuously running appeal in New Zealand’s history.
-Additional reporting by Allied Media
