Hutt South MP Chris Bishop 'gutted' to miss dawn service wreath laying

The current article has been updated to add that Labour leader Chris Hipkins was not present at one of the Hutt Valley Anzac Day services, where a representative laid a wreath on his behalf.

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop says a "breakdown in communication" saw his name read out at an Anzac Day wreath-laying ceremony he did not attend.

In a Facebook post, Bishop said he had received a few questions about this morning's dawn service in the Hutt.

He said he did not know the RSA expected him, the situation was "pretty embarrassing" and he was "gutted".

"I wasn't officially invited to do so.

"Obviously, if I had known, I would have been there."

Meanwhile, Bishop attended two other services at the Hutt Civic Centre and Wainuiomata on Saturday, and would also lay a wreath at the Ataturk memorial service at Breaker Bay in the afternoon on behalf of the government.

Online commenters said Labour leader Chris Hipkins' name was also read out at an Anzac ceremony he did not attend on Saturday - though his office told RNZ this had been planned, and a representative was there to present a wreath on his behalf while he was at a ceremony in Upper Hutt at the time. Hipkins also attended other Anzac Day ceremonies, they said.

RNZ has approached the RSA for comment.

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