Eleven Anzac services were held around the Eastern Bay on Friday to honour those who have served in the defence forces of Aotearoa.

Former veteran and preacher and kaumatua of Wairaka Marae Mac Kingi says the dawn service at Whakatāne had an “excellent turnout”.

“That’s the good thing about the Whakatāne community, they support that [service] as they could. It’s not just about ourselves; everyone in Whakatāne has someone who served in World War I, World War II, right through until now.”

The service was delivered in te reo and English, with prayers and karakia to honour the faith of the soldiers in the 28th Battalion.

He said he reminded those at the Civic Service later that morning to also remember the pastors, medics, nurses, and those who provided entertainment during the war, and to make sure those who served in these ways went “unforgotten”.

“We’re lucky we have people from the RSA, all these behind-the-scenes people who are as important as those who occupy the top table.”

The RSA bar and restaurant opened from 6.30am to accommodate those wanting breakfast after the dawn service and remained busy until 9pm that evening.

At Ngāti Rangitahi Marae, 15 Matatā Blue Light Cadets stood to attention at the dawn service.

Matatā Blue Light chair Kevin Raynes said he was “pretty proud” of their commitment.

“It was pretty great to be there with them. It was a good effort for our young ones.

“To stand there to attention for that long, you know young people tend to get fidgety after a while, but these cadets stuck with it in front of their kaumatua and the rest of the community.”

The group then laid a wreath at the marae.

Mr Raynes said World War II Second Lieutenant Aubrey Rota, who has a memorial at the marae, was a great inspiration for the cadets.

“What we’re trying to do with our kids is teach them how to respect the 28^thMāori Battalion, it’s a bit of a mentor for what cadets is.”

The story of how at the small arms school in the Middle East, the lieutenant armed with a taiaha won a duel against another soldier armed with a bayonet, is an inspiration to the cadets.

“For our cadets with Anzac, it’s about knowing why you’re there, and for young people to know to turn up to in the early hours of the morning, and the reason behind it,” Mr Raynes said.