Activities & Projects
British historian Sir Hew Strachan presents challenging and thought-provoking reflections on the First World War. Auckland Museum, 29 August 2014.
An exhibition reflecting on the unimaginable physical destruction caused by the First World War. Opens 15 August 2014, Te Papa.
Professor Barbara Brookes, University of Otago, will give insight into New Zealand women's contribution to the First World War. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 August 2014
.
Music and poetry inspired by the First World War. Premiere of a song cycle by Ross Harris and Poet Laureate Vincent O'Sullivan. 28 August 2014, Old St Pauls, Wellington.
A festival of music performances to commemorate the beginning of the First World War and the annexation German Samoa on 29th of August in 1914. Auckland Museum, 30-31 August 2014.
Damien Fenton, Gavin McLean, Jock Phillips and Jane Tolerton speak about writing and the First World War. Petone Working Mens Club, 30 August 2014.
Professor Hew Strachan discusses different ways of marking the centenary of the First World War. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 25 August 2014, 6 pm. Free.
Discover the service and sacrifice of Bertie Huon, Victor Harkess, Sister Nona Mildred Hildyard and Walter David Lester at Lyttelton Museum. 14-31 August 2014.
An illustrated history of New Zealand’s war experience, by Kirstie Ross and Kate Hunter. Published by Te Papa Press, August 2014.
Lincoln University is undertaking various WW100 projects on an on-going basis through the centenary period, starting with a photograph unveiling ceremony on Monday 4 August 2014.
New Zealand Post honours those who served in the First World War with a five-year programme of commemorative stamps and coins.
To mark the occasion of the Governor declaring NZ's commitment to the Empire in the First World War, Auckland Museum will host a special commemorative service. Free, 5 August 2014, 6pm.
On 29 July 2014, the New Zealand Parliament debated a motion introduced by Prime Minister, Rt Hon John Key, on the centenary of New Zealand entering the First World War. Videos are available.
A walk and talk around Toitu Otago Settlers Museum's 'Great War' exhibition. 10 August 2014, 2 pm. 7 September 2014, 2 pm.
On August 16th 2014 we will unveil a plaque commemorating the 8th (South Canterbury) Regiment of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles who left for the First World War exactly 100 years earlier.
A centenary dinner at the Kaiwaka Sports Complex, 16 August 2014, 6.30pm.
Creating biographies of the men who are on local memorials including Motueka, Riwaka, Ngatimoti, Lower Moutere, Upper Moutere, Tasman Mapua and Dovedale, and some missing from memorials.
A ‘pop-up’ exhibition featuring our local boys who fought for us. The free-standing prototypes will then be placed in railway stations in the region. 8 August 2014-8 September 2014.
Sir Hew Strachan shares his views on the First World War. Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, Palmerston North. 27 August 2014.
A talk by Neil Frances (Wairarapa Archive) about the First World War exhibition in Aratoi - Wairarapa Museum of Art and History's foyer. 9 August 2014.
Music from the First World War and beyond with Christchurch Singer/songwriter June Burney & guest artists. Northcity Church, Christchurch City, 4 August 2014.
An exhibition of selected photographs of First World War memorials by Laurence Aberhart in his home town. Russell Museum, Russell. 16 July 2014-1 August 2014.
The personal album and autograph book of Sgt Charles Nelson who served as an infantryman in France and Belgium 1917 - 1918. Published with other information on a blog by his great grandson.
A web page featuring First World War stories from the Top of the South, contributed by the community and commissioned by the Prow. New stories will be added through the commemoration.
An exhibition exploring the South Canterbury community on the eve of war and it's immediate reaction to the outbreak. South Canterbury Museum, Timaru, 5 August-28 October 2014.
Exhibition at Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, featuring books, manuscripts, maps, photographs and ephemera from 1914-1918. 9 July-12 October 2014. Now archived online.
Encouraging communities throughout New Zealand to create Fields of Remembrance with personalised White Crosses, to honour those in their community who served overseas in the First World War.
A First World War commemorative programmme 'Tau Tupua: The Spirits' honours the 150 Nieuean men who fought in the Maori Contingent during the First World War. 25 July-30 August 2014.
A series of essays and exhibitions on the role of New Zealand Police in the First World War will be available between August 2014 and November 2018.
The Otago Settlers Association in conjunction with Toitū Otago Settlers Museum are producing a documentary following the journey of the Otago Infantry Regiment and Mounted Rifles 1914-1919.
An exhibition at Akaroa Museum marking the beginning of the First World War and tracing the contributions of men and women from Banks Peninsula. 8 August-30 November, 2014.
A ceremony will be held at Auckland War Memorial Museum to mark New Zealand's first overseas action in the war, the occupation of German Samoa. 29 August 2014, 4.15 pm.
Immerse yourself in multiple stories of the First World War through talks, gallery tours, music and poems at Auckland War Memorial Museum. Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August 2014, 10 am-4 pm.
The Graduate Choir NZ and Dame Malvina Major presents a programme to commemorate the First World War at Auckland Museum on 4 August 2014, 7.30 pm. Tickets $15-$25. Bookings recommended.
'Entangled Islands' is the first in a series of exhibitions at Auckland War Memorial Museum about the New Zealand war experience over the centenary period. 19 June 2014-1 February 2015.
Five Auckland schools work with the Navy Museum to create artworks exploring the New Zealand home front during the First World War.
To commemorate the First World War, entries in the Kāpiti Coast District Libraries' Poetry Competition must relate to the theme of ‘War & Peace’. Entries close 1 August 2014
To commemorate the First World War centenary, Jonathan Grant Galleries will exhibit a collection of rare war artworks - including works by Nugent Welch and Peter McIntyre. Opens August 2014.
A book of portraits offering an extraordinary, evocative snapshot of New Zealanders facing the First World War.
The Graduate Choir NZ, under its conductor Terence Maskell, presents a programme of choral music in the Auckland War Memorial Museum's Sanctuary on 4 August 2014 at 7.30 pm.
Collecting the stories, photos and documents of Waipu people who served in the First World War and building a village exhibition. Opens August 2014.
A community project knitting comforts for soldiers. Part of 'Remember to Remember' exhibition at Aratoi - Wairarapa Museum of Art and History (8 August-7 September 2014).
The white crosses will be laid out on 3 August 2014 to commemorate the start of the First World War. On 5 August 2014 at 11:00 hours, a dedication service will be held with the Mayor Mr Cadogen.
A photographic display collated of all servicemen and women who served in the First World War from the Maniototo County, Central Otago.
A family history EXPO on 16-17 August 2014, Public Library, Paraparaumu; with a range of guests and agencies on hand to assist, plus stories and memories of the First World War.
An opportunity for journalism students to take part in an intercultural learning programme around First World War historical sites. August 2014, Belgium and France.
An exhibition at Papakura Museum on the more than 10,000 horses that accompanied our soldiers to the battlefields of the First World War. August-October 2014.
The first Wairarapa volunteers left from Masterton on August 13 1914, an event that will be re-enacted 100 years later. Masterton Town Square, Masterton, 13 August 2014.
Capital E National Theatre for Children's An Awfully Big Adventure explores the First World War in context and its impact on New Zealanders. Accessible to students aged 8+, touring in 2014.
Throughout the First World War Centenary, the University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services will add stories of its Collegians to a specially created website.
An exhibition exploring an archive of printed souvenirs donated to the Dunedin Public Library after the First World War. July-September 2014.
An exhibition at Expressions telling the story of the First World War military training camp, which turned civilians into fighting men. 16 August-3 October 2014.
An exhibition at the Central Hawkes Bay Settlers Museum in Waipawa, telling stories of some of the local soldiers who went to the First World War. 3 August 2014 - 26 January 2015.
An evolving five-year exhibition using real stories of real people - not heroes, but ordinary people striving to achieve in extraordinary circumstances. Opens 5 August 2014.
Toitū begins commemorations with an exhibition focusing on Dunedin during the First World War, and themes its Call to Arms military display to key war events. 1 August 2014-3 May 2015.
Creating an "Avenue of Remembrance" with a tree for each local fallen First World War soldier, grown from the seeds of the Gallipoli Oak Tree planted in the centre of Christchurch.
An exhibition of Laurence Aberhart's photographs of First World War memorials in New Zealand and Australia, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 12 April 2014-31 August 2014.
This exhibition at Rotorua Museum tells some of the many powerful stories from the First World War through objects and memories contributed by the Rotorua community. 2 July 2014-2 November 2014.
A personal quest to show 100 postcards portraying New Zealand and her people during the First World War.
The Christchurch RSA will be opening its new clubrooms on 4 August 2014, 100 years from the outbreak of the First World War. The old clubrooms where destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.
Short films telling personal stories about New Zealanders affected by the First World War.
New Zealand’s most comprehensive online resource on New Zealand and the First World War. Redesigned in August 2014.
