red poppy

Events In History

24 April 1922

New Zealand's first poppy day

A total of 245,059 small poppies and 15,157 larger versions were sold, earning £13,166. Of that amount, £3,695 was sent to help war-ravaged areas of northern France; the remainder went to unemployed returned soldiers and their families. Read more...

First observed in 1916, Anzac Day - 25 April - commemorates those killed in war as well as honouring returned servicemen and women. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials across the country, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, are rich in tradition and ritual.
Read the full article
Page 9 - The red poppyThe red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. In many countries it is worn around Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand it is most commonly seen

Main image: Poppy field, village of Pas, Somme 1918

This painting of the village of Pas, the Somme 1918, is by N.H. Welch. Note the poppies in the field. See the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association website for information on the significance of the poppy.