In the quieter month of December, Le Quesnoy becomes a winter wonderland. Te Arawhata follows suit, welcoming families to the Museum for Christmas-themed workshops while the team went beyond the gates to share the festive spirit.
Indeed, December was not a quiet month for Te Arawhata’s new Learning and Engagement Manager Lindsay Vanstavel.
Part of the team since September, Lindsay has thrown herself into fun and engaging workshops for children and parents alike, focussing on remembrance as well as the culture of Aotearoa New Zealand. Lindsay’s workshops allowed visitors to create their own Kiwi-themed Christmas decorations, including felt pohutukawa flowers and fluffy sheep.
Families also took part in our first Christmas cookie workshop.
With cookie cutters in the shapes of kiwi, silver ferns and even the map of New Zealand at the ready, attendees were guaranteed a tasty time at the Museum.
As Christmas is a time of sharing and connection, it was only right that Lindsay take her workshops to those who couldn’t make it to the Museum. Residents of two local rest homes, Les Residences Vauban and Harmonie, were treated to decoration making, too, with Lindsay playing a veritable Mrs Claus.
Across the Channel in London, Te Arawhata Marketing and Operations Manager Jacob Siermans represented the Museum at several Kiwi Christmas events, including Ngāti Rānana’s annual Christmas show, the New Zealand Society’s Christmas church service, and the New Zealand Women’s Association’s Christmas Lunch.
The NZWA are great friends of Te Arawhata – a group of more than a dozen of the Association’s members were with us for Anzac Day. President Margaret Mercer invited Te Arawhata to be the charity supported by the association’s Christmas raffle, and asked Jacob to speak at the lunch. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support given by Margaret and the NZWA, as well as our other friends in the United Kingdom.
At this festive time of year, we also remind ourselves of the privilege we have to be living in a peaceful environment with the right and ability to celebrate with friends and family. Te Arawhata reminds us that this is not the case for everyone, whether today or in the past.
We sincerely hope you enjoyed the Christmas period and that 2026 is full of peace, kindness and cheer.