The New Zealand Government’s recent announcement on 11 April 2025 to establish a national Veterans Day marks a long-overdue and welcome step toward recognising all who have served in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). While Anzac Day (25 April) will always be the nation’s most solemn day of remembrance for the fallen, a distinct Veterans Day offers space to honour the living—those who served, continue to serve, and carry the lifelong imprint of military life.

Yet with such a long and rich military history, and a calendar already shaped by commemorative traditions, the key question remains: what date should be chosen to mark this new national occasion?

A Day for Living Service

A dedicated Veterans Day should not be a symbolic afterthought. It must be meaningful, distinct, and enduring—an opportunity to affirm that service matters, even beyond the battlefield. While Anzac Day rightly honours sacrifice, Veterans Day can recognise resilience, pride, community contribution, and the ongoing role of veterans in New Zealand life.

Acknowledging a Deep Military Legacy

New Zealand’s military heritage stretches back over 180 years:

• The Kororareka Association (1838–40) was the country’s first informal defence group.
• The Militia Ordinance 1845 authorised compulsory militias of able-bodied European men, and imperial British troops were stationed in New Zealand from 1840 to 1870.
• The Colonial Defence Force (1862) and later the Armed Constabulary (1867) paved the way for New Zealand’s first permanent military formations, which were clearly split into a standing army and civilian police force by 1886.
• The Territorial Force was created in 1910, forming the Army’s enduring reserve structure, supported by the professional core of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, Engineers, and Staff Corps.
• Naval volunteers emerged in the 1860s, with the Naval Defence Act 1913 formally establishing the New Zealand Naval Forces. In 1941, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) was officially recognised by King George VI.
• New Zealand’s air capability was established with a gifted aircraft in 1913, followed by the creation of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in 1923. This evolved into the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1934 and gained independence from the Army in 1937.

Service in New Zealand has been shaped by wars, peacekeeping, domestic emergencies, and complex overseas operations through conscription and voluntary enlistment. Today, it is the product of a highly trained, tri-service, professional force supported by a small Reserve force.

Global Comparisons: What Have Other Nations Done?

New Zealand is not alone in establishing a day to recognise veterans. Allied nations have taken a range of approaches:

Country	Veterans Day	Focus
Australia	Anzac Day (25 April)	It combines remembrance and veterans’ recognition; there is no separate day.
United Kingdom	Remembrance Day (11 Nov)	Commemorates war dead but includes veterans in national observance.
United States	Veterans Day (11 Nov)	Celebrates all living veterans; distinct from Memorial Day.
Singapore	SAF Day (1 July)	Celebrates service across all branches of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Malaysia	Armed Forces Day (16 Sept)	It coincides with Malaysia Day, which celebrates national defence and unity.

These examples reflect a key lesson: Veterans Day works best when it is distinct from memorial days and embraces the totality of service, peace and war, combat and support, Regular and Reserve.

Ideal Dates in the NZ Context

Several historically significant dates could be considered:

• 25 March – NZ Army Day: Marks the Militia Act 1845, but leans toward the Army.
• 14 June – RNZAF Origins: Commemorates the 1923 New Zealand Permanent Air Force creation.
• 1 October – RNZN Recognition: Celebrates the 1941 naming of the RNZN.

While these are institutionally meaningful, they may lack the broad inclusivity needed for a national Veterans Day.

An Open Date: The Case for the First Monday in August

Reviewing New Zealand’s national and regional holiday calendar reveals a relatively unoccupied mid-year window: the first Monday in August.

Benefits of this date:

• No overlap with existing commemorative days.
• Occurs mid-year, providing a balance between Anzac Day and year-end events.
• Offers a service-neutral date, allowing new traditions to form around all who served.
• Climatically similar to Anzac Day and logistically viable for organised commemorations.

What Has the Government Proposed?

The Government has announced that Veterans Day will accompany an annual Veterans’ Service Awards, an initiative to celebrate exemplary service and community contribution. The event, which would not be a statutory public holiday, would be held at a time of year decided after consultation with the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) and the independent Veterans’ Advisory Board.

This consultative approach is promising. It allows the community of veterans—those whose lived experience this day aims to honour—to help determine the most appropriate.

It will be interesting to see which date the RSA and Veterans’ Advisory Board ultimately recommend. One hopes they choose a day that balances history, inclusivity, and the need for a genuinely national occasion.

What Makes a Successful Veterans Day?

To succeed in the long term, New Zealand’s Veterans Day must:

• Be inclusive of all military branches and service types.
• Reflect the nation’s unique history of military evolution and civic duty.
• Be distinct in message from Anzac Day, focusing on recognition over remembrance.
• Offer accessibility and visibility for families, communities, and civic institutions.
• Serve as an annual occasion for awards, education, and national pride.

Conclusion: A Chance to Build a Lasting Tradition

Veterans Day is not a substitute for Anzac Day—it is its complement. Where one remembers the fallen, the other must affirm the living. New Zealand’s military story—from colonial militias to professional tri-service deployments—deserves a space for ongoing, living recognition.

The first Monday in August offers a neutral, modern, and inclusive option—yet the upcoming consultation process may produce an even better alternative.

Whatever date is chosen, one principle must guide the decision: This must be a day built with intent, dignity, and enduring value for those who served.

Let us make this new day not just meaningful, but truly worthy of the veterans it honours.