Robin Macandrew wears her grandfather's medals at the 2015 Anzac Day dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington. Robin has recently done research on her grandfather Robert Guy Sinclair, Otago Regiment WWI.

The 2015 Anzac Day Dawn Service Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington. The tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Wayne Muir with a photo of his father Robert Bruce Muir at the Anzac Day dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington.

Kearis Noulihan, 12 waiting since 3.20 am for the 2015 Anzac Day dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington.

New Zealand Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Australian Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove arrive at the 2015 Anzac Day dawn service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington.

On the hundredth anniversary of the first Anzac Day services in 1916, those who landed in Gallipoli are long gone – but the moving annual commemoration marches on.

The solemnity of ceremonies large and small around the country is often due, in large part, to the presence of the Anzacs' most immediate successors: the veterans of WWII.

But with these dignified, aging warriors now reaching their mid-90s or even older, authorities are contemplating a reinvention of Anzac Day.

MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ The Australian and New Zealand flags have flown side by side at services across the country for a century.

But surviving WWII veteran Noeline Ritson, 97, said Anzac Day would always be a strong occasion, at least as long as she is around.

Ritson was in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in WWII, which assisted troops through air control, aircraft maintenance, worked with codes, and carried out intelligence operations.

"I think it will always go on, with relatives and memories. It's just New Zealand," she said.

FAIRFAX NZ Levin RSA's former clubrooms, closed in 2015 after 98 years because the club was no longer financially viable.

"I think that's the way we are."

A Veterans' Affairs representative said that with about 20,000 of the country's 31,000 veterans having served since 1974, the younger generation was coming more into focus.

"As the years pass, it is expected that commemorative events may begin to focus more on the service of these veterans."

Veterans' Affairs had 3588 WWII veteran clients as of this month, but could not confirm the exact total of veterans still alive, since many were not registered clients.

"The actual number of WWII veterans remaining may be much higher," the representative said.

Veterans' Affairs oldest WWII veteran client was aged "approximately" 102.

A New Zealand Defence Force representative said Anzac Day commemorations already made a point of honouring veterans of Korea, Vietnam and all other post-1945 conflicts, as well as current serving personnel.

"If you think about the record numbers who turned out to Anzac Day services last year for the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, this showed how much it means to all New Zealanders.

"This high level of public engagement shows that the connection with past conflicts doesn't disappear when the last veteran passes on...

"We're sure the memory and lessons from WWII will continue to be commemorated and passed on."

Karori RSA president Bruce Johnston said people shied away from Anzac Day after WWII, but he felt it had become strong again.

"People had had enough of war, they wanted to forget about it. But then they realised they can't forget about it.

"Soldiers don't want to forget their mates, wives don't want to forget their husbands.

"It's not the Somme, it's not Gallipoli, it's not the Desert War [during WWII], it's all our wars we roll into one and say 'Hey, we have to remember them sometime."

The Returned and Services Association did not know the exact number of WWII survivors either, with a representative saying RSA could only track them if they joined their local club.

But with 41 post-Vietnam operational deployments, the country was "creating veterans" at the fastest rate since WWII, marketing communications manager Hamish Stuart said.

"The questions for us right now are more about engaging with and advocating for them, and establishing how best can we assist them and their families.

"The type of injuries sustained are significantly different, for instance, as are methods of rehab."

BY THE NUMBERS

Current total Veterans of overseas operational deployments: 31,000

WW2-Vietnam: 11,000

Vietnam-now: 20,000.

Number of post-Vietnam operational deployments (ie since 1975): 41.

- Source: Veterans' Affairs