25th April 2026
Good morning, I am Mayor John Funnell and I welcome each and every one of you here today. We are honoured to have:
- Deputy Mayor Kevin Taylor, Councillors Manunui, and de Lautour
- Former servicemen
- Local Iwi and senior Iwi leaders present today
Today, on ANZAC Day, we pause together to remember.
We remember those who served, those who sacrificed, and those who never returned. We honour their courage, their solidarity, and their enduring legacy.
Each year, ANZAC Day invites us not only to reflect on history, but to connect it to the lives we lead today and to the people who shaped us.
For me, that reflection is personal. My father, Lionel, served his country, alongside many others who answered the call of their time. Like so many men of his generation, he did not speak often about his service. But what stayed with me were the values he carried home, a quiet sense of duty, loyalty to those he served with, and a deep respect for the bonds formed in times of hardship.
He was one of countless New Zealanders who served not for recognition, but because it was simply what was asked of them. And he was never alone. He stood shoulder to shoulder with others, who became mates for life, bound by shared experiences that only those who have served truly understand.
Today, as I remember my father, I also remember all those who served alongside him, and all those, across generations, who have worn the uniform of our country. Their stories may differ, but they are united by service, sacrifice, and a willingness to put something larger than themselves first.
ANZAC Day is also about those who came home and the way service continued long after the uniform was put away. In families, in communities, in quiet acts of leadership and resilience, the impact of service lived on.
Here in Taupō, as in other communities across New Zealand, that legacy is visible. It is carried in our Returned and Services’ Associations, in our memorials, and in the stories passed down through families – stories of courage, loss, humour, endurance, and solidarity.
As time moves on, and fewer veterans are able to stand with us in person, our responsibility grows. It becomes our duty to remember on their behalf and to ensure their service is not reduced to dates in a history book, but remains a living part of who we are.
Today, we remember all who served, and all who gave their lives. May we honour them not only with words, but by the way we live, with respect for one another, care for our communities, and a commitment to peace.
Lest we forget.
