Anzac commemorations at Te Papa

19 April 2012

Anzac Day is a time to commemorate all men and women of the Pacific who have given their service and life during war. This Anzac Day at Te Papa, we will be commemorating by sharing wartime love stories, traditional songs from Wellington’s Tongan Youth Choir, and various children’s activities.

This Anzac Day will see the special screening of Home by Christmas, by Wellington film-maker Gaylene Preston. This film memoir is based on Preston’s interviews with her father about his World War II experiences, reconstructed with actor Tony Barry as Ed Preston. Weaving strands of poetic, imagined drama with archival footage, Preston presents both sides of her parents’ wartime marriage.

Wellington’s Tongan Youth Choir will be performing to commemorate the contribution of Pacific peoples to the Anzac cause. The programme features a range of unaccompanied traditional Tongan songs.

During the day, Wellington Regional Scouts leaders will be holding workshops for children in the Inspiration Station Discovery Centre. Kids will also be able to learn about Lucy Moore’s cloak, The Long Shadow, which was a finalist in the 2009 Montana Wearable Arts Awards, and make their own mini memorial cloak.

Our commemorations will end with a retreat ceremony by the Regimental Band of the 7th Wellington (City of Wellington’s Own) and Hawke’s Bay Battalion, RNZIR. The retreat ceremony is a centuries-old military ceremony that signals the end of official duty for the day and pays respect to the flag.

All events are free admission.

Media contact

Roxan Mathys, Manager Communications (Acting)
029 601 0180 or 04 381 7083
media@tepapa.govt.nz