Friday 25 April 2008, 3pm,

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Greetings, greetings, greetings – I bring warm thoughts and greetings from the Governor General of New Zealand Hon Anand Satyanand and the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister.

They, like thousands of New Zealanders, young and old, will today be taking part in ceremonies and reflecting on the sacrifices of those who fought for our country.

Our armed services continue to work in unpredictable and dangerous environments overseas. New Zealand and the Czech Republic both have an involvement in Afghanistan. We are proud of the role they play in maintaining peace; their work enables others to live their daily lives in greater security. We honour the work they are doing, and wish them safe return.

Throughout New Zealand, and indeed wherever New Zealanders are in the world today, they will gather to remember their war dead and to honour the service of those who survived.

Despite the passage of time, this desire to remember is heartfelt. Every year, more and more New Zealanders choose to attend ANZAC Day ceremonies and services.

For members of the Speaker’s delegation here in Prague, it is a pleasure to join members of the New Zealand community on ANZAC Day.

There are 14 New Zealand war graves at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Prague. Each is engraved with the distinctive silver fern. Detailed information is sparse, but it is believed that these Kiwi soldiers died in prisoner of war camps in Czechoslovakia.

Casualty figures remind us of the extent of their sacrifice. Of the approximately 102,000 New Zealanders who served in the First World War (approximately 10% of the population), 16,300 were killed in active service in the war.

The first ANZACs were mostly civilians, representing all classes and occupations in New Zealand society. The social impact of the casualties was devastating. Every family, every street, every community was affected by the loss or maiming of so many of our young men.

The carnage at Gallipoli and the Western Front dashed the aspirations of families and cut young lives short. These young men lost their chance to live out their lives as we do, to explore individual potential, to build a career, to contribute to a community and to be part of a family.

Although fewer New Zealanders were killed in the Second World War (11,625) these casualties represented a further blow to families and communities around the country.

It is always difficult being away from home and family on days like this. Your thoughts, like ours, will turn to the ANZAC Day ritual in towns and cities throughout New Zealand. There will be Dawn Parades, current and former servicemen will march in the early morning darkness, members of the wider community will join them, there will be a short service, prayers, hymns and a dedication concluding with the final verse of Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen. The Last Post will be played, followed by a minute’s silence. Participants will disperse, in silence, with the words of that dedication still suspended in the early morning air.

Although Anzac Day does not mark a military triumph, it does remind us of a very important episode in New Zealand's history. Great suffering was caused to a small country by the loss of so many of its young men. But the Gallipoli campaign showcased attitudes and attributes - bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity and loyalty - that helped New Zealand define itself as a nation, even as it fought unquestioningly on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.

After Gallipoli, New Zealand had a greater confidence in its distinct identity, and a greater pride in the international contribution it could make.

I thank you all for making the effort to be here today. It is a pleasure to be part of your community on this day as we honour those who were asked to do extraordinary things for their country, and did so willingly and at considerable personal cost.