Anzac services in the Taupō District
From left Felicity Cruickshank, Vicki Greene and Margaret Seal sell poppies at the Taupō Home and Garden Show on Sunday. Photo: Dan Hutchinson
Towns around the Taupō District are gearing up for Anzac Day on Saturday.
Anzac Day services in the Taupō District begin with the Tūrangi RSA Cemetery Service at 5.45am, with services at the Taupō Cenotaph and Kinloch Fire Station beginning at 6am.
Immediately after the Taupō Dawn Service people can wander down to the Taupō Bowling Club.
There will be free tea and coffee available at the Taupo Bowling Club, 4 Ferry Road Taupo, immediately following the service and the bar will be open.
There will also be a barbecue style breakfast at the Taupo Bowling Club, for which there will be no cost for all veterans of military service.
For the general public the Taupō RSA requests a donation of $10 per person for breakfast, to help cover the cost of the event. Numbers are limited to 230 people, so it will be first in, first served.
The crowd gathers at Taupō Cenotaph to commemorate Anzac Day 2025. Photos: Dan Hutchinson
For Scott Forsythe, Anzac Day is particularly special. It represents three generations of his family's military service, from the trenches of Gallipoli to the mountains of Afghanistan.
Forsythe, who owns 5 Mile Gin distillery on Oruanui Street, served 14 years in the New Zealand Air Force handling supply chain work.
His grandfather, John Andrew Forsythe, fought in both World War I and World War II, while his oldest son Wiremu completed six years in the army with tours in Afghanistan and East Timor.
"I remember even when I was in the Air Force, dawn services were the big thing. It was only just for the veterans.
"But now it's become very family-orientated, and a lot of people actually realise the history of what their parents and grandparents and great grandparents actually did for the country."
His grandfather John Andrew Forsythe served at Gallipoli where he was wounded, then fought in France where he sustained injuries again during World War I.
His wounds prevented him from combat duty in World War II, so he served as base adjutant at an internment camp.
Scott Forsythe's Air Force career took him across New Zealand. He left the service in 1995 when his two children were into their sixth primary school.
"Back then the Air Force moved you where they saw fit," Forsythe says. "Now you get a bit bigger choice in where you go and when."
His distillery honours his service through its Navy gin, a 57% alcohol spirit that reflects traditional navy strength. For every bottle sold, Forsythe donates $1 to the RSA, and he does the same thing for three other charities with different labels.
TAUPŌ
6am: Taupō Dawn Service - Taupō Cenotaph, Great Lake Centre
All veterans, past and present service personnel, local youth groups, and other community members that want to take part in the parade should report to the parade marshal, 5.45am, at the rear carpark of the Great Lake Centre. The parade steps off at 5.55am. Full service dress equivalent (including medals) to be worn.
9am: Taupō Cemetery Service - Taupō Services Cemetery, Rickit Street
10.30am Taupō Civic Service - Taupō Cenotaph, Great Lake Centre
All veterans, past and present service personnel, local youth groups, and other community members that want to take part in the Civic Service, should report to the parade marshal. Meet at 10.15am, at the rear carpark of the Great Lake Centre. Parade steps off at 10.25am. Full service dress equivalent (including medals) to be worn.
KINLOCH
6am: Kinloch Dawn Service - Kinloch Fire Station
MANGAKINO
10.15am: Mangakino Cemetery Service - Mangakino Services Cemetery, Lake Road
11am: Mangakino Civic Service - Mangakino District Services and Citizens Club, Wairenga Road
SOUTHERN LAKE TAUPŌ
5.45am: Tūrangi RSA Cemetery Service - Tūrangi Services Cemetery, Aonini Rd.
11am: Tūrangi Civic Service - Tokaanu-Tūrangi and Districts RSA.
5pm: Sunset Service in Kuratau - Omori Kuratau Community Hall.
All veterans, past and present service personnel, local youth groups and other community members that wish to take part in the Civic Service parade, should report to the parade marshal in Tūrangi town centre, to march to the Tokaanu-Tūrangi and Districts RSA for an 11am service.