Reporters all over the country say Anzac Day services today have drawn the biggest crowds in living memory.

The RSA says it's been touched by huge turnouts.

Chief Executive David Moger was at the dawn service in Auckland.

He put the size of the crowd at about 25,000.

"I got there at 4.00, thinking I'd get there in plenty of time, and there was already significant numbers of people there. The emotion there was so powerful."

The RSA in Whangarei is impressed with the new understanding of Anzac Day being shown by children in the city.

The cenotaph has been moved to a more accessible location in Laurie Hall Park, and now shows all 650 names of the Whangarei men killed at war.

RSA trust chairman Archie Dixon says children seem more interested in the memorial now there are names they could be related to.

He says it puts tears in his eyes to see the pride some children have.

"One of the really heartwarming experiences is to see schoolchildren there pointing out the names of their grandfathers."

The Governor-General has urged war veterans to talk about their experiences to the next generation.

Sir Jerry Mateparae has given a speech at the National Commemorative Service at Pukeahu in Wellington this morning.

He says history comes alive when we discover the personal stories within it, and he wants veterans to pass on their stories.

"My message to families is to record these stories in some way, so that your young people can carry the torch of remembrance into the future."

Malcolm Gayfer says it was a sombre dawn parade in Invercargill, with light rain falling for the first steps of the commemorative march.

"The crowd spilled out on to the streets around the Cenotoph in central Invercargill. Some estimates put the crowds around the 10,000 mark, but certainly the biggest I've seen in the years I've been coming to the Dawn Parade."

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse says he's amazed at the turnout in Dunedin this morning.

It's the first time he's attended his local service as a government minister.

Michael Woodhouse says he's immensely proud to see such a large crowd paying their respects.

"It was fantastic for me to be here at the Centenary, to see so many people turn out and reflect on tremendous service."

Large services were also reported in Napier, Dargaville, Tologa Bay and Christchurch.

However, Wellington Free Ambulance staff worked flat out during this morning's service at Pukeahu.

Around 60 people needed treatment between 5.30 and 6.30am, mainly for fainting.

A few were transported to hospital with chest or head pain.