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For many years New Zealanders had been reluctant to commemorate their military history and as a result plans for a national war museum had not eventuated.
The New Zealand Army had maintained small collections and displays at Dunedin, Burnham, Linton and Waiouru. In 1964, a small museum was established in the original Waiouru Homestead and it wasn’t until thirteen years later that the Chief of General Staff, Major-General Ronald Hassett (a veteran of WWII and Korea) launched “Operation Heritage” to develop a National Army Museum.
The Museum was designed to function as a memorial; to acquire, preserve and display aspects of New Zealand’s military history; and to serve as a research and teaching facility.
Events moved rapidly: the Army Memorial Museum Trust Board was incorporated in August 1977. Spearheaded by a well-publicised run across New Zealand by Major Albert Kiwi and his dog Freefall, fund-raising got underway. The builders soon followed and Army Engineers and voluntary labour braved a tough winter to complete the Sir Miles Warren designed fortress-like structure in just 276 days. The Governor General opened the 1300-square metre Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum on 15 October 1978.
Looming dramatically out of the tussock and ‘guarded’ by restored tanks and guns, the complex captured the attention of Desert Road travellers. The Museum also attracted interest for its unique displays which were the work of Gary Couchman — a Wellington designer, now residing in Australia — who set new standards for museum display throughout New Zealand.
Since 1978, the Museum has undergone further development. Stage II opened in July 1983, increasing work, storage and gallery space. Stage III (Kippenberger Pavilion) was finished in 1995 as was the memorial greenstone wall Tears on Greenstone — Roimata Pounamu which commemorates New Zealand’s War Dead from the three Armed services and the Merchant Marine.
The National Army Museum is now planning further development (Stage IV) which will consist of a large Display Hall that will enable the Museum to exhibit over fifty military wheeled and tracked vehicles and the large artillery pieces that are currently held in storage.
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