It’s been two and a half years since New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata opened in Le Quesnoy, the small French town.
On November 4, 1918, New Zealand soldiers liberated the town's people from four years of German occupation by scaling the inner medieval wall with a ladder to gain entry. They didn't want to bomb the ramparts and injure locals and destroy their town.
Not a single civilian died. More than 100 Kiwi soldiers were killed in the wider Le Quesnoy area, according to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
"It's a real privilege to be sharing the story of the liberation of Le Quesnoy, which is still relatively unknown for many New Zealanders," general manager Elizabeth Wratislav said.
"Obviously with Anzac Day, I think a lot of New Zealanders grow up knowing the story of what happened in Gallipoli, there aren't so many people that know what took place here on the Western Front and particularly this story of real success for New Zealanders in Le Quesnoy."
Wratislav said the museum's goals are to educate people on Le Quesnoy and the New Zealand Division's experiences during World War One and deepen the ongoing friendship between the countries. Visiting school children from New Zealand and France are a particular focus for education on Le Quesnoy's liberation.
Since the museum's opening in October 2023, visitor numbers are increasing year on year with 4500 people visiting the museum in 2025.
The museum aims to be New Zealand's tūrangawaewae on the Western Front. Unlike other war museums which show weapons and are often dark in lighting and feature the sound of explosions, Te Arawhata's exhibits put people from the war at the centre, and the rooms are light, with reflective music and excerpts from soldiers playing.
The museum features a giant, realistic sculpture of a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade deep in reflection after the battle.
An artistic ladder hangs in the centre of the building, referencing the tool at the centre of the liberation story and symbolising visitors taking steps to gain knowledge. Wētā Workshop designed these pieces and the fit-out.
Pleasant Point man Philip Lees, who had family who fought in Le Quesnoy, found visiting the museum with his wife and son a deeply moving experience.
"My father was involved in the Second World War, and we didn't ask enough questions, we didn't talk to our fathers about these things," he said.
The museum offering the family a space to pay their respects. Lees said he was pleased this history has been shared with the next generation, his son.
"It's great. I think it's fantastic. He probably didn't know anything about this and now here he is, he's taking it all in, asking questions," he said.
Financial support from New Zealand backers remains crucial to the running of the museum.
"Certainly, in these first five years, it's about getting established, getting awareness up and building our networks as well," Wratislav said.
The United States and Israel's war with Iran stopped New Zealand schools visiting this month, with their air travel planned to transit through the Middle East.
The town of Le Quesnoy is investing in the project for the first time, funding the development of a public garden behind the museum which will have a memorial for New Zealand soldiers as part of it.
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