In 1917 the New Zealanders moved into Belgium and began fighting in "Flanders Fields". On the 7th of June the Battle of Messines began with the detonation of 19 huge underground bombs - 10,000 German soldiers were killed in the blast and it rattled teacups in London. Fierce fighting continued for several days, by the time the New Zealand Division was relieved on 9 June, it had 3700 casualties, including 700 dead.

Those who fell 100 years ago were honoured and remembered in Auckland on the 15th September 2016.
A field of 163 crosses bears the names of Aucklanders who died in the battle on the 15th September 1916. 

On 1 July 1916 British and French forces launched an offensive which would become known as the Battle of the Somme.

Concerns have been raised around the role of Veterans in the Dawn Service at Auckland War Memorial Museum. See New Zealand Herald article HERE.

Across New Zealand Fields of Remembrance are becoming a part of ANZAC Day commemorations. RSAs and community groups are remembering those who lost their lives 100 years ago in the First World War in this very personal and visually dramatic way.