Furious war veterans have slammed the decision to say a Muslim prayer during an Anzac Day dawn service to honour those who lost their lives in the Christchurch mass shooting.
The Returned and Services Association (RSA) branch at Titahi Bay near Wellington in New Zealand has now chosen to include the prayer at the end of its two-hour 10am civic ceremony.
However, the club originally chose to invite Newlands Mosque imam Mohamed Zewada to read a prayer from the Quran at the end of the dawn ceremony.
The news quickly garnered negative attention from war veterans, with many claiming the club was disrespecting the legacy of Anzac Day.
The Returned and Services Association (RSA) branch at Titahi Bay near Wellington in New Zealand has now chosen to include a Muslim prayer at the end of its two-hour 10am civic ceremony
The club originally chose to invite Newlands Mosque imam Mohamed Zewada (pictured) to say a prayer at the dawn ceremony
Vietnam veteran Dave Brown was one of many who protested the decision to have the Muslim cleric say a prayer at the dawn service.
'What took place in Christchurch was shocking and we all agree that it was completely out of order in every way,' Mr Brown said in an email to the Titahi Bay Club.
'Anzac Day came about to recognise all those who went overseas and served their country and returned, and those who never returned. That is the significance and the only justification for Anzac Day, and I feel it should stay that way.'
Mr Brown told Daily Mail Australia the 6am dawn service is a military service and should have nothing political or religious involved.
'It's a remembrance service for those who left and those came home and of course, for the fallen,' he said.
'I just felt having to recognise what happened in Christchurch was not appropriate for the dawn service as it's a non-political, non-religious service.
'However, the civic service is completely different.'
Afghanistan war veteran and organiser of the Titahi Bay service Simon Strombom told Daily Mail Australia the club had lots of discussion in regards to the parade since the Christchurch shooting.
