National Army Museum at Waiouru

With battlements on high like a medieval castle, the National Army Museum dominates the army town of Waiouru as it straddles SH1 at the southern end of the Desert Road.  With various tanks placed strategically in front, the granite grey building looks for all the world like an impregnable castle. 

   National Army Museum at Waiouru

But the building was far from impregnable some years ago when some of the museum’s most significant war medals were stolen.  When they were finally recovered several months later, new security measures were put in place, and the Medal Repository was redesigned.  Three glaziers were invited to submit safety glass for this and then as a test strong staff members spent days trying to smash their way through the glass panels, to determine what to use in the new facility.

   The Medal Repository

The museum is entered through the striking Tears on Greenstone Memorial area.  Boulders of uncut greenstone (pounamu)  were presented to the museum by the Ngai Tahu people in a gifting ceremony on May 2001 as a tribute to their warriors who had fallen in the wars.  The greenstone was cut and made into a large curving wall with a trickle of water running down to signify tears for the fallen, while the names of all New Zealand service people who lost their lives fighting for the country are recited.  All new army recruits make their Oath of Allegiance in front of this wall.

Tears on Greenstone Memorial Wall

The new exhibition “Harnessed” tells the story of the thousands of New Zealand horses who were sent into battle during the Boer War and WW1.  The horses suffered terribly, carrying heavy loads and trying to survive in desert conditions of heat, flies, thirst and blinding sand storms.  On the Western Front  they were used for hauling guns, stores and equipment, through freezing temperatures, snow, rain and mud.

Horses at War

The museum covered all the theatres of war, from the New Zealand Wars, Boer War, WW1 and WW11, the Home Front, Medical Corps, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam.  Tanks and armoured vehicles were displayed throughout, as were life size models.  You could spend days wandering around the museum.  

LCPR – Landing Craft Personnel and Ramp

25 Pounder Gun, Ammunition trailer & 4X4 Chev Tractor Unit

I was particularly interested in the Vietnam exhibition as my brother Brian served there for several years.  This display shows two gunners and a signaller leaving the helicopter for an operation.

Soldiers in Vietnam

The many tanks and guns on display in the grounds outside the museum are a magnet for families, and kids of all ages love nothing better than to climb up on top and play soldiers.

Bofors 40mm Light Anti-Aircraft Gun

Free parking is available to self contained caravans and motor homes behind the museum, and our group took advantage of this offer.  Security guards are on duty all night and patrol the grounds regularly so we had no worries about our safety.

Parked overnight behind the museum in Waiouru