There's anger the band that traditionally performs at the national ANZAC Day memorial has been snubbed for this year's centenary.

The Airforce band has been preferred to their 7 Battalion army counterparts for Saturday's dawn ceremony in Wellington, despite the latter having performed at the service for at least the last 50 years.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage says the service requires a high level of musicianship that should not be expected of a band that's unofficial and unfunded.

New Zealand First Defence spokesman Ron Mark says he's not buying it.

"To dismiss them and dump them out of hand without talking to them, and giving them the reason that's been put to me in that letter, I find that just appalling."

Mark says it defies history that the band not feature.

"This is the only band of the Wellington Battalion that landed at Gallipoli. This is the very we say we're turning out to remember."