Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā!
Happy New Year!
Bonne année !
I hope you enjoyed the festive period, whether it was spent in snowy Europe or (not so) sunny Aotearoa.
Te Arawhata is halfway through its winter shut down and although the doors may be closed, the Museum team is keeping busy!
I am delighted to share the recent progress regarding the transformation of the park behind Te Arawhata.
As visitors will know, the Museum sits on a large site complete with tall trees and an expansive lawn extending towards the manor house.
In a project led by the Le Quesnoy Town Hall, a public memorial park is under construction. Works are underway to clean up the old gardens and map out new pathways and areas for planting that will make this one of the largest and most beautiful green spaces within the walls of Le Quesnoy.
Members of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust and I extend our deep gratitude to the Le Quesnoy Town Hall and to mayor Marie-Sophie Lesne for their commitment to this project, which continues to promote the rich and enduring friendship between New Zealand and Le Quesnoy.
And while work takes place onsite, the Te Arawhata team has taken the opportunity to head away for two developmental days.
The Museum Connections expo in Paris was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues across the sector and fuel us with inspiration for the year ahead.
We also took the opportunity to visit an interactive experience centred around the famous fables of Jean de la Fontaine, which was a trip down memory lane for our French team members and a learning experience for the Kiwis.
The team also recently paid a visit to the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge.
9 April 1917 is a key date for Canadians, as it marked the beginning of the Battle of Arras during which the four Canadian Divisions fought side-by-side and managed to take the strategic highlands of Vimy Ridge.
Today, the site is home to one of the most striking memorials across the Western Front, as well as an impressive set of preserved tunnels and trenches. Thank you to John Desrosiers and Jacob Neil from Veterans Affairs Canada for their warm welcome during their own winter shutdown!
Less than two weeks remain before Te Arawhata reopens on Wednesday 11 February. We have a full calendar of events ready to unveil, including our programme for Anzac Day 2026 which promises to be our best yet.
Once again, I wish you happy New Year and hope to see you at Te Arawhata in 2026!