A small gathering at the Wānaka Cenotaph to observe Armistice Day on Saturday (November 11) provided a poignant reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony to commemorate the end of World War I commenced with a hushed two-minute silence at precisely 11am, echoing the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the armistice was signed in 1918.

Commander Lyal Cocks (RNZN Rtd) addressed the assembled crowd. 

"In my view, all wars are terrible, and regrettably, they are not getting any fewer,” he said. 

Commander Lyal Cocks (RNZN Rtd).

"This is a day when we take a few moments to remember, acknowledge, and appreciate how fortunate we are that some people have made the ultimate sacrifice in the past, so we can live such a great life in our chosen area here in New Zealand." 

Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, honors the ceasefire that ended the First World War. On this day, nations worldwide pause to remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices of those who served and fell in the line of duty. 

Members of the public laying poppies.

The Wānaka observance included a wreath-laying ceremony, with community members stepping forward to place floral tributes at the base of the cenotaph. 

Adding a poignant touch to the event was a Tiger Moth flyover orchestrated by Peter Hendriks, an aviation enthusiast. The distinctive sound of the vintage aircraft paid homage to the wartime skies and the aviators who played crucial roles during those times. 

The ceremony included the laying of poppies and the playing of the Supreme Sacrifice by David Lesley.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App