Services have been well attended in the South commemorating 100 years since the end of the Great War.
On November 11 at 11am, the Armistice was signed, ending a brutal World War 1 held from 1914-18 that took a huge toll on communities. More than 18,000 New Zealanders died and another 41,000 were injured.
In North Otago, a memorial plaque recognising the role of Her Majesty’s Hospital Ship Maheno in supporting New Zealand troops during World War 1 was unveiled this morning at the small North Otago township of Maheno in front of a crowd of nearly 200 people.
A similar plaque commemorating HMHS Maheno was unveiled at the site of the ship’s wreck on Fraser Island in Queensland on Anzac Day in 2017.
In Oamaru, a crowd of about 250 observed a moment of silence at the World War 1 memorial in Lower Thames St.
QUEENSTOWN
Armistice Day in Queenstown was marked by the ringing of church bells and the sounding of the TSS Earnslaw's horn.
The congregation at a service at St Peter's, in the resort's town centre, observed a two-minute silence that was broken at 11am with the playing of the Last Post and the ringing of the church's bell.
Out in Queenstown Bay, the 106-year-old steamship sounded its horn as the clock struck 11.
In Milton, a parade was held down the main street before wreaths were laid by Clutha District mayor Bryan Cadogan, members of the RSA, Corrections and the Navy.
The deputy mayor of the Central Otago District Council, Stewart Cowie, attended the Balclutha service where the Last Post was played.
CENTRAL OTAGO
Central Otago's celebrations were centred on Alexandra, where almost 2000 people attended a joint commemoration organised by the combined Alexandra-Clyde, Cromwell and Roxburgh-Millers Flat RSAs in Pioneer Park.
A parade and Mounted Rifle games were held by members of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Charitable Trust and Central Otago pony club members, and there was a flyover from an old Russian fighter jet.
SOUTHLAND
Nearly 400 people gathered at the Cenotaph in Invercargill for commemorations, which began with a performance of Piper's Lament by the Invercargill pipe band.
A wreath-laying ceremony followed, before bugler Steve Coatsworth gave a stirring rendition of the Last Post.
A large flock of pigeons were released to symbolise doves of peace.
Down the road in Bluff a family day was held, with a mix of entertainment, market stalls and children’s activities combined with an honour wall for soldiers from Bluff killed during World War 1 as well as a display of vintage vehicles.
Event organiser Gloria Henderson said the purpose of the event was to help inform children on the conflict through a mix of education and entertainment.
In Gore, technology and tradition combined for the first time at the Remembrance Day Centenary Service held at the Cenotaph.
As well as more than 400 people attending the event, over 150 people watched the service online as it was live-streamed to the Gore RSA Facebook page.
Gore RSA president Jarrod Scott said it meant if people could not attend they could still watch online.
Facebook saved the video and he said the Gore RSA planned to use the live-stream tool for future services.
- Reporting by Hamish MacLean, Guy Williams, John Cosgrove, Pam Jones, Ben Waterworth and Ashleigh Martin
