Anzac Day services are starting to be formally cancelled as the national terrorism threat Level remains at high after the Christchurch mosque attacks.
The organiser of the service at Matakana, north of Auckland, said she was told by police this morning that the service had to be done away with.
"It's horrendous, everyone is horrified," organiser Adrienne Miller told 1 NEWS.
But she said she was complying with the request because she would hate it if anyone was hurt.
She said police were "insistent" and told her there was "a higher risk of vehicular terrorism" at the Matakana service.
She said police also said armed officers would feature at the Warkworth service, where people are being asked to go instead.
On Saturday 1 NEWS reported that small services would be grouped together to ease police resources.
When 1 NEWS asked police at the time if there would be armed officers at Anzac Day services, they said it would be "assessed on a case by case basis".
With the Matakana Anzac Day service cancelled, the Matakana community is being urged to instead place poppies and flowers at the local war memorial throughout the day.
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