ANZAC Day 2025: Honouring Legacy, Unity, and the Spirit of Resilience
Every year on April 25th, people across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia gather in the quiet stillness of dawn. It’s a moment that defies time, a collective pause that brings communities together to remember, reflect, and honour those who have served.
But what exactly is ANZAC Day, and why does it continue to resonate so deeply, generation after generation?
The Origins of ANZAC Day
ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, Türkiye, on April 25th, 1915.
In the early hours of that morning, thousands of New Zealand and Australian soldiers came ashore on a rugged, steep stretch of coastline. The plan had been to seize control of the Dardanelles and open a route to the Russian Empire, an ally during the First World War. But what unfolded was a campaign marked by poor planning, harsh terrain, and fierce resistance from Ottoman Turkish forces who were fighting for their homeland.
The Gallipoli campaign lasted eight months and saw heavy casualties on both sides: over 130,000 lives lost, including more than 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders. It was a military failure, but something deeper took root.
Amid the chaos and carnage, the world saw the birth of the ANZAC spirit: a combination of endurance, mateship, courage, and quiet determination. These were young soldiers from new nations who showed grit and humanity under unimaginable conditions.
Gallipoli became a defining chapter, not just in military history, but in national identity. For Türkiye, it marked the emergence of a modern state and the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who would become the country’s founding father. For Australia and New Zealand, it was a moment of collective coming-of-age, one that helped shape who we are as people and as nations.
More Than Gallipoli: A Legacy of Service
While Gallipoli is the cornerstone of ANZAC Day, it is far from the full story.
New Zealand and Australia have a long history of service in conflicts around the world. From the Western Front and Passchendaele in WWI to El Alamein and Monte Cassino in WWII. From Korea, Vietnam, and Timor, to more recent operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and numerous peacekeeping missions, our armed forces have answered the call again and again.
Each of these stories carries the same quiet resolve that first stirred on the shores of Gallipoli.
The Personal Connection: Family Stories That Shape Us
At Wyld Peak, ANZAC Day holds a special meaning for our team. For Hayden, our founder, this day is woven into his family history.
“My grandfather flew Wellington bombers in Bomber Command during World War II,” Hayden recalls. “He was just a young man, thousands of miles from home, navigating night skies over Europe. My great-grandfather fought in the trenches of the First World War, and I had great uncles who served in the North African campaign. Their stories aren’t just names in a history book. They’re part of who I am and part of why I hold this day so close.”
Their service and the service of so many others remind us that behind every uniform was a person. A son or daughter. A partner. A mate. A future cut short, or forever changed.
Why We Still Remember
ANZAC Day is not about glorifying war. It is about honoring sacrifice, remembering courage, and carrying forward the hard-won lessons of history.
It reminds us of the true cost of peace and why we must never take it for granted. The values our soldiers fought and died for, freedom, democracy, unity, and human dignity, are not just ideals of the past. They are principles under threat today.
In a world where authoritarian regimes rise once more, where imperial ambitions are rekindled, and where people are still oppressed for speaking out or standing up, the ANZAC spirit matters more than ever. What happened over a century ago echoes loudly in our present.
ANZAC Day challenges us to ask: What do we stand for? What are we willing to protect?
It’s not just a day for those with direct links to veterans. It belongs to all of us. To every community and every nation that values freedom over fear, resilience over retreat, and the quiet bravery it takes to stand against tyranny in any era.