A ceremony to mark the beginning of the First World War for New Zealand will take place on Monday, 4 August at 10 am at the RSA flagpole in Mitchell Park.

Whakatāne District Council, and all government departments, will also lower their New Zealand flags to half-mast to mark the anniversary.

The local ceremony is amongst many such tributes to be held throughout the country. In Wellington, the original proclamation of war will be read from the steps of Parliament buildings, and members of the New Zealand Defence Force dressed in First World War replica uniforms will lower the flags on Parliament forecourt with the support of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band.

As part of the ceremony, members of the 16th Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery will fire a 100-gun salute from the waterfront in front of Te Papa in Wellington at approximately 9:20 am. This will also be webcast live on YouTube.