The RSA said that at this stage, its annual 10am service at Maunu Cemetery – for the families of veterans buried there – will still go ahead.
It is unclear whether other, separately organised community Anzac Day services will also be affected. The Northern Advocate notes that most of these events are scheduled for later in the morning, with some being held indoors.
Earlier today, MetService issued an orange warning for heavy rain for parts of Northland, including Whangārei, with a heavy rain watch covering most of the region. Both alerts are in place until 9am tomorrow.
The cancellation marks a rare occurrence for the Whangārei dawn service, with organisers saying they cannot recall when it was last called off because of the weather.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast.