Te Arawhata tells the story about the liberation of Le Quesnoy and the meeting of two peoples from opposite ends of the Earth. This story is as much about the local French people as it is about their liberators, the New Zealanders.
It was therefore a pleasure for Te Arawhata to host members of the French armed forces at the Museum as part of a training day away from their base in Lille. More than 60 soldiers and service personnel visited the Museum to discover more about the deep connection between France and Aotearoa.
As groups of this size struggle to fit within single areas of the Museum, the group was divided throughout the space and Te Arawhata team members were stationed to provide information about the Museum’s permanent exhibition.
A standout aspect for many was Wētā Workshop’s imposing giant and hyper-realistic soldier. Many of the visitors also noted how incredibly clear the photography was despite being over a century old.
Two of the visitors noted how the Museum’s Māori elements made them feel a little closer to home – one was from Tahiti, the other from Wallis and Futuna.
To thank Te Arawhata General Manager Elizabeth Wratislav for hosting the group, General Philippe de Montenon presented the Museum with challenge coin from the Commandement de la Force et des Opérations Terrestres.
Te Arawhata remains committed to sharing not only the story of the New Zealand troops, but also that of the struggle of the local community under occupation.