Pacific stands together to honour shared service and sacrifice across generations

Across the Pacific, ANZAC Day was marked with respect, pride, and a strong sense of shared history.

Communities came together on the weekend to honour those who served and sacrificed.

This year’s commemorations carried added meaning. It marked 111 years since the Gallipoli landings and 84 years since the Second World War campaigns in Papua New Guinea (PNG), moments that continue to shape the region’s story.

In PNG, where Australian and local forces once fought side by side, remembrance ran deep.

Ceremonies were held across the country, including at Bomana War Cemetery and Lae War Cemetery, honouring those who lost their lives during the 1942 campaigns.

Aotearoa's official messages focused on national remembrance and the shared legacy across the region, though fewer public remarks were recorded from New Zealand representatives at Pacific island ceremonies.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ewen McDonald, reflected on the lasting bond between the two nations.

“From fighting together on the front lines of the Second World War to maintaining a modern defence force relevant to the challenges of our time, the bonds of mateship forged between our two countries remain.

"We have recently seen that spirit in action, with our two defence forces working together to deliver much-needed supplies to provinces affected by Cyclone Maila, just as close mates do in times of need.”

A quiet moment of reflection was held in Papua New Guinea where the legacy of wartime service still runs deep. Photo/Australia High Commission, PNG

In Fiji, a dawn service at the Military Cemetery in Suva brought people together in quiet reflection while similar gatherings took place across Sāmoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Niue.

These services not only honoured New Zealand and Australian troops but also recognised the vital role Pacific Islanders played as soldiers, carriers, and scouts who supported Allied forces during wartime.

In Tuvalu, the legacy of the Second World War still lives on in everyday life. Australia’s High Commissioner, David Charlton, spoke about the connection.

“As High Commissioner to Tuvalu and as a Colonel in the Australian Army Reserve, Anzac Day has a special dual meaning for me this year in Tuvalu.

An ANZAC Day service in Tuvalu highlights the strong ties and shared stories across the Pacific. Photo/Australia High Commission, Tuvalu

"Tuvaluans still live with the legacy of the Second World War today, from aircraft wrecks that are now war graves in Funafuti Lagoon to war remnants on land.

"Like Australians and New Zealanders, Tuvaluans made sacrifices. At its peak, 2000 Tuvalu men served and historians estimate that 55 Tuvaluans lost their lives during the Second World War.”

In Vanuatu, commemorations also highlighted unity across the region. Australia’s High Commissioner, Max Willis, said the values behind ANZAC Day continue to guide relationships today.

“The spirit of unity, resilience, and selflessness that defined the Anzacs are a guide to how our two countries aspire to engage with our Pacific family.

People come together in Fiji to pay their respects, remembering those who served and the role Pacific Islanders played. Photo/Fiji Police

"I am deeply proud when I see these values upheld here in Vanuatu, in the way we - Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu - are working together in pursuit of our shared vision for a safe and prosperous region for generations to come.”

Beyond the islands, ANZAC Day was also marked by Pacific communities overseas, including services in Honolulu and Manila in the Philippines.

In Aotearoa and Australia, large crowds gathered for traditional dawn services and marches, standing alongside the Pacific in remembering a shared past.

Across oceans and generations, the message remained the same: remembrance, respect and a bond that continues to hold strong.

Watch ANZAC Day commemorations by the Cook Islands community below.