Sunday 3 May 2015

Sir Peter Jackson’s Great War Exhibition.

Pukeahu (Mount Cook), the National War Memorial Park was officially opened on 18th April 2015. Being away up north at the time we took the first opportunity after returning home after our Anzac Weekend club rally, to visit this site.

IMG_0065Pukeahu Park War Memorial Park

Sir Peter Jackson helped to create this $10 million exhibition to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. It is inside the former Dominion Museum building behind the National War Memorial Carillon in Wellington.  It tells the story of World War 1 from 1914  to 1919  honouring the role many Kiwis played.

IMG_0074The Australia memorial commemorates the long and close relationship between the people of Australia and New Zealand.

IMG_0080The wreaths from Anzac Day inside the War Memorial.

IMG_0097Great War Exhibition, old Dominion Museum Building, Wellington.

As you walk into the museum you are in a  "peaceful" Belgium street setting in 1914. As you walk through the exhibition you are shown the experiences of conscription and heading out for war, before viewing the recreations of battle scenes, including life-sized tanks and weapons. (Extremely realistic)

IMG_0100Our tour guide in a replica Belgium Street.IMG_0112Soldiers on the battlefield.

IMG_0114These soldiers were all hand painted by model enthusiasts.

IMG_0098The 51 metre high Carillion in Wellington.

IMG_0095This model of a New Zealander Richard Henderson and his donkey is a memorial to all medics and stretcher bearers and commemorates the 75th anniversary of the landings on Gallipoli.

Much of the exhibits  in the exhibition are from Peter Jackson's private collection and based loosely on the story of his grandad Will, while other pieces were donated from war museums in France and Belgium.

Sir Peter Jackson used the  creative talents of his teams at Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop to create the experience .

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