Poppy Day is the RNZRSA's main fundraising activity. Donations collected on Poppy Day help us improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealand's veterans of all ages.
The RSA was established in 1916 with the aim of taking care of New Zealand’s veterans and their families as soldiers returned from Gallipoli. While today’s soldiers face different challenges, our support to them and their whanau continues.
In 2024 we celebrated 102 years of the Poppy Appeal – with the Poppy campaign running throughout the month of April and Poppy Day, our street collection, occurring on 19 April.
The first poppy appeal in 1922 netted 13,166 pounds – poppies were sold for one shilling each. Today's poppies are sold for a gold coin donation and we average close to a million poppies sold each year.
