Saturday, 25 April 2026, 7:44 pm
Press Release: Air New Zealand
This Anzac Day, Air New Zealand operated a flight to
remember, carrying stories of military service across the
Tasman.
In partnership with Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Auckland War Memorial Museum, every seat on flight NZ101, a
dawn flight from Auckland to Sydney, honoured a
serviceperson, as an act of remembrance on a day of national
reflection.
A
Flight To Remember – Air New Zealand /
Supplied
Before the flight departed,
Petty Officer Musician Colin Clark of the Royal New Zealand
Navy band played the Last Post at the boarding
gate.
On board, customers received a commemorative
edition of Kia Ora magazine placed on each seat, sharing the
story of a New Zealander who served, past and present. The
stories are drawn from the Museum’s Online Cenotaph, which
records New Zealand military service over the past 127
years, across a range of conflicts and peacekeeping
operations.
The stories include personnel from the New
Zealand Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Navy, as well as
New Zealanders who served with Australian Forces and other
allied nations.
Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability
& Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin says
today’s flight gave those travelling to Sydney from
Auckland a chance to reflect on Anzac service
history.
“Today’s flight is very special. These
are important stories we’re carrying that have helped
shape our country and our history. Anzac Day is one of
Aotearoa’s most unifying national moments. Many of us have
relatives who have served, and to partner with the Auckland
War Memorial Museum to bring these stories to the skies on a
day of national remembrance was very special.
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“We
hope that through this flight, veterans and their families
feel their histories are valued, and that passengers took a
moment to reflect on the individual stories shared on
board.”
One of the stories included on the flight
was shared by Staff Sergeant Tina Grant, wife of the late
Corporal Douglas “Duggy” Grant of the New Zealand
Special Air Service (NZSAS).
Corporal Grant was
mortally wounded while attempting to rescue civilians in
Kabul, Afghanistan in 2011, the first member of NZSAS to die
in Afghanistan, and New Zealand’s third fatality there.
His death marked a significant moment in New Zealand’s
involvement in Afghanistan and was deeply felt within the
Defence Force and the wider community.
Since then,
Tina Grant has advocated for improved long-term support for
bereaved families of New Zealand Army personnel and helped
establish the New Zealand Families of the Fallen Charitable
Trust.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tumu Whakarae
Chief Executive, David Reeves, who has been instrumental in
the development of Online Cenotaph, says the flight adds to
what is an important day for New
Zealanders.
“Through Online Cenotaph, we have worked
over many years to broaden how Anzac Day is understood, by
sharing records and stories from more than 40 conflicts in
which New Zealanders have served. Seeing these stories
acknowledged by Air New Zealand today brings that work to a
wider audience.
“The profiles shared on this flight
will be added to Online Cenotaph, becoming part of the
ongoing record accessible to researchers, whānau, and the
public.”
Copies of the special Kia Ora magazine
edition will be formally preserved with the Museum’s
institutional archive.
To further honour those who
have served, Air New Zealand has made a charitable donation
to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’
Association.
Additional service records can be
accessed via the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online
Cenotaph at aucklandmuseum.com/cenotaph.
Ka
maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.
We will remember
them.
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