MEDIA RELEASE
30 October 2006
St Matthew-in-the-City hosts Remembrance Day
This year marks the 88th anniversary of Remembrance Day, which commemorates the armistice that ended the First World War
and the sacrifice of those who died serving New Zealand in this and other armed conflicts.
Diplomatic and government dignitaries, military units, members of the Royal NZ Returned Services Association and all
Aucklanders wishing to honour those New Zealanders who served and died for their country are invited to gather on
Sunday, 12 November at St Matthew-in-the-City for a service of remembrance. Preceded by a military parade at 11am down
Hobson Street, the service, led by Vicar Glynn Cardy, will begin at 11:30am.
The Governor-General, His Excellency the Hon. Anand Satyanand will represent the Crown; His Worship the Mayor Dick
Hubbard, will represent the City of Auckland; and the keynote speaker, the Hon. David Cunliffe, MP, will represent the
government. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Armed Forces and the judiciary will also be in attendance.
On the first anniversary of the armistice, 11 November 1919, a two minute silence was instituted as part of the main
commemorative ceremony in Whitehall, London. King George V had personally requested all people of the British Empire to
suspend normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the armistice. Two minutes silence was popularly adopted and it
became a central feature of commemorations on Armistice Day.
After the Second World War, Britain and her Dominions, including New Zealand, agreed to change the name and date of
Armistice Day to Remembrance Day, now to be observed on the second Sunday in November.
ENDS