Over 160 veterans and 100 New Zealand Defense Force personnel paraded through central Wellington Monday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

 

The parade began in Civic Square at noon and made its way through Lambton Quay to the Wellington Cathedral and then on to Parliament Grounds.

 

The majority of veterans were transported along the parade route in open sided New Zealand Army trucks and some traveled in WWII era military vehicles.

 

The veterans, 80 of whom just returned from a Veterans Affairs New Zealand-hosted commemorative trip to the Pacific, followed a 100 strong tri-service (Navy, Army and Air Force) New Zealand Defense Force Guard of Honor.

 

A commemorative service subsequently was held in the Wellington Cathedral in the presence of Silvia Cartwright, governor-general of New Zealand, and Prime Minister Helen Clark.

 

The parade later marched into Parliament Grounds, where the prime minister inspected the Guard of Honor.

 

Aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force conducted a flyby at the conclusion of the event.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)