Otago Civil Defence group controller Richard Saunders is asking Otago residents to put the needs of the region ahead of themselves this ANZAC weekend.

ANZAC Day is tomorrow (Saturday April 25) and a public holiday will follow on Monday (April 27). But it’s not the time to get lax about COVID-19 alert level four restrictions, Richard said.

“ANZAC Day is a time to reflect on the huge sacrifices made by thousands of servicemen and women for our country,” he said. “While the sacrifices we have been asked to make over the past few weeks pale in comparison to those made by our ANZACs, they do share a collective character – a huge team effort pulling in one direction.”

New Zealanders have learned about being part of a nationwide project with a common goal during the pandemic, he said.

“The best way we can honour our servicemen and women this weekend is by maintaining our own collective effort.”

While the move to alert level three is looming, the country remains in level four.

“I know everyone’s minds are turning to next week and being able to dust off the surfboard or mountain bike,” Richard said. “However... I urge everyone to continue to put the needs of Otago and New Zealand first.”

Civil Defence and Southern Police are also cautioning anyone tempted to ignore the rules they will be risking arrest.

“Police checkpoints across Otago will continue over the weekend and enforcement action remains an option for anyone caught flouting the level four rules,” Southern District Police commander Paul Basham said. 

Richard also encourages Otago residents to start their weekend by commemorating ANZAC Day and getting behind the RSA and New Zealand Defence Forces’ ‘Stand@Dawn’ campaign.

The RSA has encouraged all New Zealanders to commemorate our service personnel by standing at the end of their driveways or near their letterboxes at 6:00am to stand at dawn.

Radio New Zealand National will broadcast an official dawn service starting at 6:00am on both its AM and FM frequencies. You can listen live via the internet here or download RNZ’s app for your mobile phone here.

The morning service includes the Last Post, the Ode of Remembrance, national anthems and an address by the Minister of Defence and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Ron Mark.

After the long weekend, New Zealand will wake up to alert level three on Tuesday morning (April 28), under which some of the alert level four lockdown rules are relaxed. 

PHOTO: Wanaka App