The end of World War 1 was marked with the sharing of memories, dance, song and moments of remembrance at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington today.
"It's really amazing to be stood here on such a beautiful day in this park seeing people arrive to come and join us for the remembrance of Armistice," centenary programme organiser Sarah Davies said.
Ms Davies said it's a surreal and special moment after marking occasions from WWI over the last four years.
Across town at the waterfront, a 100 gun salute from the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery ended at 11am, marking the time guns fell silent a century ago.
The occasion brings mixed emotions for Ashley McKenzie-White, an educator at Pukeahu and the great, great niece of the first New Zealand soldier to be killed in action in World War One, William Ham.
William Ham, originally from Ireland, died on February 5, 1915, a couple of days after a bullet rebounded off his rifle and hit his neck during the first New Zealand combat at Suez Canal.
"He was 23 and he left his home, his new home in New Zealand, to go serve in the first world war and he was one of eight and a half thousand New Zealanders that died... and for what, for what?" Ms McKenzie-White said.
Ms McKenzie-White said sharing the story of Willy Ham through her role over the last four years and reflecting on the complete waste of life caused by the war has been mentally exhausting.
"It's been four years of like constant remembering and today's the Armistice, you know the last day.... so what does this mean for his story?
"The war ended today but it didn't end today - the men and women that were overseas didn't come home for another six months," she said.
Ms McKenzie-White said she thinks about how the world's people must have felt today, one hundred years ago, after four years of "such sorry, devastation, grief and loss."
That loss was remembered in the national service with two minutes of silence at 11am, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy laid flowers at a memorial tomb for a warrior whose identity is unknown.
The Prime Minister said the anniversary allows everyone to reflect on what legacy was left behind after World War One.
But news the war was over was also met with relief, jubilation and noisy street celebrations - that moment marked around the country today - and in Wellington, at 11.02am, with a roaring chorus.
The Hope Bell rang a melody of joy at the national park, emergency services let off their sirens, KiwiRail trains sounded their horns, and various boats in the harbour including the Navy's HMNZS Canterbury made noise.
Several dances from performers at the New Zealand School of Dance symbolised the emotions that came with the end of WWI.
School children ran to the stage, beating pots with kitchen utensils to add even more noise.
A performance commissioned for the centenary commemoration, He Wawā Waraki: Roaring Chorus 2018, brought together historic quotes, song, dance and poetry.
A poem created for the event, Ending Song by Airini Beautrais, was read out accompanied by interpretive dance.
The New Zealand flag was lowered to half-mast while the Last Post played out.
A sole tui who flew overheard of seated veterans and dignitaries broke silence with birdsong following The Ode.
Among the 5000 people who attended the service was 91-year-old Richard Martin, whose father Bertram Martin made tunnels during WWI.
"When we asked him, 'Who won the war Dad?" he said, "No bugger won." Mr Martin's older brother died in World War 2.
He said his father Bertram was bitter about the war, believing all it had achieved was millions of graves.
"Those old fellas from the first World War had a dreadful time, three years in the mud and trenches of France and they were very poorly treated when they came home - the gratuity was 10 pounds or keep your great coat," he said.
Sue Baker Wilson brought with her a cloak remembering the 95 tunnellers who served in WWI from Waihi in the form of wearable art.
"When they first went overseas they were involved in an underground war... So their role was to make sure they weren't caught out by enemy explosives - so we call that a game of cat and mouse," she said.
Ms Baker Wilson said 62 of the 1000 tunnellers died in WWI, with the loss being felt by those remaining.
The decorative cloak was made by the Waihi community as well as women from around the country and Brisbane.
Vietnam veteran Patrick Duggan said the service performances were sobering.
"One-hundred years is a long time and it's just so worth remembering - we've got to keep this in our minds because we don't ever want it to happen again.. ever," he said.
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