Earlier this month, the New Zealand National Liberation Museum, Te Arawhata officially opened in an elaborate ceremony in Le Quesnoy, France. The opening coincided with the 105th anniversary of the liberation of the town by the New Zealand Rifle Brigade after it had faced four years of German occupation. Attendees, including Link Foundation Chair Sally Martin and Treasurer Andrew Barkle, were able to honour those New Zealanders who had fought and died during the First World War, as well as visit the many excellent and varied exhibitions of the Museum.
‘It was a great privilege to join the many Kiwis who had come to witness the opening of the NZ Liberation Museum at Le Quesnoy after its many years in development. It is an uplifting remembrance of a much sadder time of great sacrifice by young New Zealanders so far from home fighting for liberty on French soil. Many moving speeches were made but in particular, the Chair of the NZ Memorial Museum Trust, The Rt Hon. Sir Don McKinnon, ONZ, GCVO, PC, Friends Emeritus of the NZ Memorial Museum Trust, Lt. Gen. The Rt Hon. Sir Jerry Mateparae, GMNZ, QSO, KStJ and a former NZ High Commissioner to the UK and a former NZUK Link Foundation Trustee, who also cut the ribbon with Le Quesnoy Mayor, Marie-Sophie Lesne’
NZUK Link Foundation Sally Martin on the Opening
The NZUK Link Foundation was involved in the opening by facilitating the NZ Organising Committee of the NZ Museum at Le Quesnoy to obtain important funding support from a major UK philanthropic foundation. You can read more about the opening of the Museum in their October Newsletter here.