The first Anzac Day was observed throughout New Zealand on 25 April 1916 — the inaugural anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli. The acts of New Zealand soldiers in their first major campaign of the First World War provided a source of pride, while the dead brought much sorrow. The Anzac Day Dawn Service is not only a meaningful ritual of remembrance; it brings us together like no other day.
Issue information
Whether an Anzac Day Dawn Service is held at Auckland or Kaikōura, Gallipoli or London, Scott Base or Stewart Island, New Zealanders rise early on Anzac Day. On this ‘the one day of the year’ we forgo a holiday sleep-in to acknowledge at dawn those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and who now sleep forever.
Once a solemn and silent parade of veterans, today Anzac Day belongs to all New Zealanders as we acknowledge the human cost of war and share in a sense of pride in the collective deeds of those who served.
Presentation Pack
Dr Stephen Clarke is the former chief executive of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association. His first Anzac Dawn Service was in Dunedin in 1990, inspiring a career both researching and organising Anzac Day as a historian. In this presentation pack, Dr Clarke analyses what Anzac Day means to all New Zealanders today through the lens of the annual Dawn Service.
Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers
The image displayed on the first day cover for 2019 Anzac: Dawn Service reflects the way New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day – together, with young and old, veterans and civilians. The miniature sheet and miniature sheet first day cover featured an image of a striking sunrise over Anzac Cove.
Product Listing for 2019 ANZAC: Dawn Service
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.20 'Auckland' gummed stamp. Broadcast live on Māori television, the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the iconic Auckland War Memorial Museum and Cenotaph is the largest New Zealand Anzac Day service anywhere in the world. |
$1.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.20 'Kaikōura' gummed stamp. Pākehā and Ngāi Tahu locals gather to remember their ancestors’ part in the Canterbury Mounted Rifles during the First World War and acknowledge the support of the New Zealand Defence Force in the wake of the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake. |
$1.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.20 'Stewart Island' gummed stamp. The Anzac Dawn Service held at Oban, Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island is the southernmost in New Zealand and as such, the latest with sunrise at 7.37am. |
$1.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.40 'Scott Base' gummed stamp. There is no dawn at Scott Base in Antarctica — the sun sets the day before for the ‘polar night’ and will not rise again until August — but Kiwis wintering over will still remember. |
$2.40 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.00 'Whangarei' gummed stamp. The Whangarei District War Memorial was relocated to Laurie Hall Park in 2015 as a focus for the Field of Remembrance located here each Anzac Day since 2010 — the first centre in the country to revive this form of commemoration for Anzac Day. |
$3.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.60 'Dannevirke' gummed stamp. The Anzac Dawn Service at Dannevirke is typical of those in country towns when the community comes together to remember past generations. The war memorial is a reminder of the changed rural economy and the impact of war on communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. |
$3.60 |
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled gummed miniature sheet. | $12.60 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with six gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $13.10 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $13.10 |
 |
Presentation Pack |
In this presentation pack, Dr Stephen Clarke analysed what Anzac Day means to all New Zealanders today through the lens of the annual Dawn Service. The pack included a first day cover, miniature sheet and a set of six stamps. |
$29.90 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 3 April 2019 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Six gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $1.20 x 3, $2.40, $3.00, $3.60 |
| Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed by: | Helcia Berryman, Grange Park Creative, Raumati South, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 50mm x 25mm (horizontal) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 160mm x 85mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14.4 x 14 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/Imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 2 April 2020. First day covers remained on sale until 2 June 2019. |
