Crossing the threshold of the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata means stepping into a story that is both local and deeply international.
During my six-week internship, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in this world, where remembrance, research, and education come together on a daily basis.
As a Master’s student in Anglophone Foreign Cultures and Translation, I am currently writing my thesis on New Zealand women during the First World War.
Joining this Museum, at the very heart of the subject I study, was a unique opportunity to connect academic research with public engagement.
Very quickly, my experience at the Museum gave a new dimension to my research: here, archives come to life, places continue to tell their stories, and the names engraved in stone regain their human dimension.
During my time at Te Arawhata, assisting with the creation of a cycling trail around Le Quesnoy was particularly memorable.
Travelling through villages, farms, and cemeteries, I was able to retrace the stages leading up to the liberation of 4 November 1918 and highlight the individual stories of New Zealand soldiers.
Madelyne Rémy
Te Arawhata Intern
March – April 2025