UPDATED 6.59PM: At dawn, 102 years after the doomed landing at Gallipoli, the message was clear - remember the past, but don't forget those who have followed in the footsteps of the Anzacs.

Tens of thousands New Zealanders and Australians have attended dawn service ceremonies large and small in both countries more than a century on.

The emotional services continue to attract large numbers, including more and more young people who have grown up learning about the legend of the Anzacs.

Wellington

A sombre crowd gathered to commemorate fallen soldiers at the Wellington Anzac dawn service.

Up to 2000 people, ranging in age from toddlers upwards, congregated on the cold but dry Tuesday morning donned in red poppies, coats and hats outside the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

@NewstalkZB @NewstalkZBWgtn ANZAC Dawn Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington this morning. pic.twitter.com/2RqjoN0CrM

— Georgina Campbell (@GeorgeKCampbell) April 24, 2017

The Turkish ambassador was present, as well as veterans, current military members and Prime Minister Bill English at the hour-long ceremony.

Joined thousands of New Zealanders here & around the world to thank those who have served & remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/drvwufoOp3

— Bill English (@pmbillenglish) April 24, 2017

Dame Patsy Reddy gave her first Anzac Day address as Governor General. 

She told the crowds them she can only imagine the thoughts of people attending the first formal Anzac Day ceremonies in 1917.

"For the bereaved, an Anzac Day service was the nearest thing to a funeral that their loved ones would ever have."

📸 || Photos from the #AnzacDay dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington. MORE: https://t.co/hpAWz8ERUz pic.twitter.com/qBYg2Bhy7b

— NZ Defence Force (@NZDefenceForce) April 24, 2017

Australian Defence Department secretary, Dennis Richardson, attending his first Anzac day ceremony in New Zealand, paid tribute to all former and current members of the defence force.

"This is a day of thanks and quiet reflection. We are reminded of the debt of gratitude of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The bond between New Zealand and Australia is unlike that of any other."

After the service people could lay poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and and in the Hall of Memories.

A National Commemoration Service will be held at the same location from 11am.

Parade pre service this morning in Petone. As always Petone community out in full force and with spirit! #lovetheHutt pic.twitter.com/7JpBRpXG0W

— Christopher Bishop (@cjsbishop) April 24, 2017

Auckland

In Auckland, a crowd of around 5000 gathered at War Memorial Museum at Auckland Domain on a crisp morning.

The official programme commenced at 6am, led by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, before a civil service at 11am.

Goff said the Gallipoli campaign may have failed to achieve its objectives but nevertheless imbued Kiwis with a new sense of statehood.

"Those who left New Zealand to fight for King, for England and for empire, came home as New Zealanders," Mr Goff told the crowd.

The morning's service was commenced by a karakia from Vietnam veteran Robert Newson, before prayers were conducted.

Hymns were then sung by the crowd, made up of many children and students in school uniforms, before the sounding of the Last Post, the reciting of an ode of remembrance and the bugle call.

Mr Goff, after his address, saluted the Unknown Warrior by placing a cross in the museum's court of honour.

After the ceremony, Aucklanders lined up to place poppies on the cenotaph at the museum, and to mingle with servicemen past and present.

Commemorating #ANZACDay at the dawn service at @aucklandmuseum. Warming to see a sea of faces, both young and old. pic.twitter.com/Ej9d7Z7Iv6

— Phil Goff (@phil_goff) April 24, 2017

A veteran who died overnight has had a special farewell at this morning's dawn service.

Vietnam veteran Eddie Knock says the man was a colleague from his old unit.

"His family brought the casket up and it was down by the weeping wall."

Christchurch

In Christchurch, a dawn parade took place from the Christchurch Memorial RSA in Armagh St. Christchurch reporter Josh Price said rows of white crosses are visible from where was standing for this morning's service.

"As you walked into Cranmer Square you could see them all laid out, and there was over 2000 of them marking all the Cantabrians that lost their lives in World War 1."

Of the 10,000-strong crowd who attended the service, many have remained after the service to try and identify names of family members among the crosses. Children are taking photos with the crosses, while others are simply taking time to reflect.

Along with veterans and RSA members, the amount of young faces at services and parades has continued to grow since 2000, with a number wearing old uniforms and medals belong to grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

Christchurch's RSA is packed out with returned servicemen and their families, continuing the Anzac Day tradition.

One of those sitting down for breakfast is a former member of the Australian Engineer Corps, Eddie Badman, who says it's an annual pilgrimage after the dawn service.

"Just sit down and have a chat with a few of the old diggers... it's good to hear some of their stories, have a beer and remember mates, you know, it's good."

Hamilton

People in Hamilton also have two opportunities to pay tribute this morning. The Dawn Service began 6am at Memorial Park, and there's a civic service from 10 o'clock.

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King says crowds have been getting bigger year by year, and today's events are an important part of acknowledging everyone who's been in conflict.

He says it's about honouring the families who lost loved ones, those who came back haunted and people who didn't come back at all.

Hanging with the Maori Wardens at the Hamilton ANZAC Day Civic Service #anzacday2017 #TheTron #CDEM pic.twitter.com/B2m16yHFi2

— Waikato CivilDefence (@CivilDefenceWKT) April 24, 2017

Dunedin

In Dunedin, Queens Gardens was packed once again for this morning's commemorations.

It was crisp, with a temperature of about 7 degrees by the time the City of Dunedin Pipe Band and veterans open proceedings about 6.30am.

A two-round salute from a 25-pound field gun followed, while Air Commodore Kevin McEvoy gave the Anzac address.

Dunedin reporter Matiu Workman said students have turned up in busloads to the Queens Gardens service.

"[It was] a real tidal wave sort of thing I was speaking to somebody else at the time and they just noticed this absolute onslaught of students to the area and that told me obviously it is a lot of their first time coming to a dawn service and that it's really important to them.

Eighteen-year-old Otago University student Anna Blair says Anzac Day is important to all New Zealanders, regardless of age.

"Everyone has a relative or someone that went to war or fought for our country so it's important to pay your respects and appreciate that sacrifice."

Tauranga

Waiouru

It was a cool seven degree start for people attending the service outside the National Army Museum in Waiouru.

Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie says there's been a good turnout at the spiritual home of the New Zealand Army.

"The youth of New Zealand Army adds a lot of vitality to the service and it's been a very good experience," he said.

It's been 102 years since New Zealand and Australian soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

Whangarei

The Coromandel town of Thames will commemorate Anzac Day at its recently refurbished war memorial.

The memorial was lit for the first time at a ceremony this evening and will be lit again every evening over the next year.

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson says the restoration and the lighting of the memorial has been the result of a lotteries grant and a huge community effort.

He says Thames was a major centre during World War I, but many of its young men never returned from the war.

He says there are lot of memorials to World War I around the Coromandel Peninsula, and many of them commemorate the service of young people.

Stratford

Gallipoli

The smallest crowds in years are expected at tomorrow's Anzac Day dawn service in Gallipoli, but there will still be an enormous security presence.

Two thousand police have been dispatched to the peninsula, with intelligence suggesting terrorists may try to target the commemorations.

Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders have registered to attend the dawn service, marking 102 years since the landings at Anzac Cove.

Our Chief of Navy & NZ contingent at Gallipoli, we remember with sorrow, but also gratitude, all those who fought and died #AnzacDay pic.twitter.com/A2WESe9d2b

— Royal NZ Navy (@nznavy) April 24, 2017

Belgium

The Anzac sacrifice has been remembered in Belgium, where some of the worst of the Western Front horrors took place.

When our troops marched from the Belgian city of Ypres to the battlefields, they passed two stone lions at the city's Menin Gate.

The lions were later gifted to Australia, but this year they've been returned as part of Belgium's commemorations.

As New Zealand and Australia held dawn services a ceremony took place in Belgium to unveil the lions.

READ MORE: Where to attend a 2017 Anzac Day service