The government will be represented at Anzac commemorations in Turkey this year - the first time since before the pandemic.
The Defence Force participating in the dawn service at Gallipoli in 2018. Photo: NZDF
Anzac Day services haven't been held at the Gallipoli Peninsula since 2019.
Meka Whaitiri. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Minister for Veterans Affairs Meka Whaitiri will attend services during a five-day visit to Turkey. She will be joined by Australian and New Zealand Defence Force personnel.
Whaitiri will visit the Commonwealth and Turkish memorial sites, tour battlefields on the peninsula and lay a wreath to honour 11 Canterbury Mounted Rifles interred in Çanak Consular Cemetery from 1919.
In Canakkale, she will meet with Governor of Canakkale lhami Aktas and attend the opening of the Bigali Castle hosted by the Turkish minister of Culture and Tourism.
Whaitiri will also host a New Zealand Trade and Enterprise event in Instanbul.
"This is an opportunity to meet with New Zealand companies and to support them in their message that New Zealand is open for business."
Whaitiri, who is also the customs minister, also planned to offer support following any disruption in supply chains due to the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine.
