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Air New Zealand marked ANZAC Day with a special trans-Tasman service carrying stories of military service, in a partnership with Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Flight NZ101, a dawn service from Auckland to Sydney on April 25, featured a tribute on every seat honouring a serviceperson as part of the day of remembrance.
Passengers were given a commemorative edition of Kia Ora magazine containing stories drawn from the museum’s Online Cenotaph database, which records New Zealand military service over the past 127 years across conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Tribute before departure
Before boarding, Petty Officer Musician Colin Clark played the Last Post at the departure gate.
The onboard stories included personnel from the New Zealand Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Navy, as well as New Zealanders who served with Australian and allied forces.
Air New Zealand chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Kiri Hannifin says the flight gave travellers an opportunity to reflect.
“This flight was very special. These are important stories we’re carrying that have helped shape our country and our history.
“ANZAC Day is one of Aotearoa’s most unifying national moments.”
Stories preserved
One of the profiles featured was that of the late Corporal Douglas “Duggy” Grant, of the New Zealand Special Air Service, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011 while attempting to rescue civilians in Kabul.
His wife, Staff Sergeant Tina Grant, has since advocated for improved long-term support for bereaved military families and helped establish the New Zealand Families of the Fallen Charitable Trust.
Auckland War Memorial Museum tumu whakarae chief executive David Reeves says the collaboration extended the reach of the museum’s work.
“Through Online Cenotaph, we have worked over many years to broaden how ANZAC Day is understood, by sharing records and stories from more than 40 conflicts in which New Zealanders have served.”
He says the profiles used on the flight will now be added to Online Cenotaph as part of the permanent public record.
Copies of the special Kia Ora edition will also be preserved in the museum archive.
Air New Zealand says it has also made a charitable donation to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association.
