7.30PM: Leading politicians have this evening urged a new generation of people affected by the ongoing HIV epidemic to rally against the disease's spread and to always remember the hundreds of people, mostly gay men, who have died due to HIV in New Zealand. Their messages were read to AIDS Candlelight Memorial services which kicked off at 7pm throughout the country. This year's event marks 25 years of the services with the theme "never give up, never forget." Latest available figures, to the end of 2007, show that 948 people are known to have died in New Zealand due to HIV and an estimated 1,230 are currently being treated to try to stop the disease from ravaging their immune systems. The NZ AIDS Foundation says many hundreds more are likely to be infected but are unaware they are carrying the virus, which causes AIDS. In recent times an average of 75 gay men have been newly diagnosed with HIV every year, one of the highest figures since HIV emerged, but a little less than the peak of 90 recorded in 2005. Most of those gay men are believed to have contracted the disease in New Zealand, in contrast to the dominance of overseas-contracted infections predominant amongst heterosexuals, many of whom are recent immigrants. "The Candlelight Memorial is an opportunity to stop and remember not only the lives of those the AIDS epidemic has claimed, but also those it has left in its wake," Governor General Anand Satyanand said. "It is an opportunity to educate everyone about AIDS and to reaffirm our commitment to fighting the stigma and discrimination that many living with AIDS continue to endure." Fulsome praise of the AIDS Foundation's work came from the Prime Minister. "The New Zealand AIDS Foundation’s work in education and advocacy is so important – every day it is helping those who live with the disease, Helen Clark said, whilst also acknowledging "the community-based groups, and the people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and friends, who play a pivotal role in promoting measures to combat HIV/AIDS." She added that is is "still important that the next generation of New Zealanders is informed and able to continue working towards meeting the challenges this disease may bring in the future." National Party and Opposition Leader John Key acknowledged progress in prevention, detection and treatment HIV, but warned against letting down communities' guard against HIV. "Much has been achieved in preventing, diagnosing and treating HIV/AIDS," he said, "but we must not let success become an excuse for complacency." Key saluted the work of the AIDS Foundation and underscored the AIDS Memorial service's role in prompting remembrance of "those we have lost to AIDS, while also highlighting the hard work that still lies ahead" in fighting the spread of HIV. He described the work of the NZAF and its supporters as "amazing" and "truly inspiring."