Nau mai, haere mai ki a koutou katoa
If you missed the official opening of the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata, here are some highlights from the events and stories featured in the media.
From the dawn blessing by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and the reveal of the pounamu cleansing stone at the museum entrance, through to the official ribbon cutting and first members of the public to visit, the events were a fitting acknowledgment of the Kiwi soldiers who liberated the people of Le Quesnoy and a friendship that began over 100 years ago.
The opening was a poignant reminder that the museum is not just about war. It symbolises freedom, friendship, and the future.
Photos by Anna Birchall