The Returned and Services Association (RSA) has made the decision to cancel any public Anzac Day events this year and is postponing its national Poppy Day appeal.

The decision means it will be the first time Anzac Day services have been cancelled since they were started in 1915.

It is the first time Poppy Day has been postponed since 1922.

Gatherings of 500 or more people held both out and indoors were advised to be cancelled by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday.

Following that announcement national RSA president BJ Clark said: "We need to consider the demographic we have in our RSA and that would be attending Anzac Day parades"

"It's our responsibility to remember and acknowledge those that have served but also to ensure our members and the public are kept safe."

There are now 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New Zealand.

Following the events of March 15 last year, the number of Anzac Day services were reduced due to safety concerns.