A Christchurch teenager says Kiwi soldiers who fought overseas gave us a better life.

Thousands turned out to Christchurch's Cranmer Square Dawn Service - remembering more than 4000 Cantabrian soldiers who lost their lives to war.

A teenage leader at the YMCA wore his great-grandfather's medals to the service.

"It's a lot about reflection on what our ancestors brought to fight for our freedom and basically where we are today."

More than 36 other ANZAC remembrance services are being held across Canterbury today.

A war veteran in Christchurch, says so many soldiers and civilians die needlessly in war.

Vietnam veteran William Walker says ANZAC Day's a special moment to reflect, thanking God and everyone who protected you, but there's a cost.

"Vietnam was a waste of time, waste of money, waste of life.

"It's a shame that so many guys died needlessly, like most wars."

However, William Walker said he'd still join the army and there's a lot to learn from it.

Along with the dawn parades and other ANZAC parades in the city, New Zealand's first ANZAC vintage car run is happening in Canterbury today.

Almost 70 of the oldest vehicles in the country will run from Darfield to Glentunnel, stopping at five war memorials on the way.

Organiser Malcolm McGibbon says they're some of the most beautiful cars you'll see in the country - with ten of them more than 100-years old.

"It's really about commemorating Anzac Day and celebrating the cars of that same period.

"The same cars that those people that made those sacrifices probably would have driven."