New Zealand’s place to stand in Europe
The northern French town of Le Quesnoy is home to the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata. With an immersive visitor experience created by Wētā Workshop, the Museum honours those who died in World War One, the freedom they fought for, the friendship we share with France and our hope for a better future.
They came “from the uttermost ends of the earth” to liberate the people of Le Quesnoy on November 4, 1918.
That poignant quote, which appears on Le Quesnoy’s New Zealand Memorial, refers to the New Zealand troops whose military ingenuity and courage saw them scale the town's towering 17th century walls with ladders, choosing not to use their artillery.
While this unique approach meant no civilian lives were lost and the town’s historic architecture was preserved, many Kiwi soldiers died and are buried around Le Quesnoy.
Almost 110 years on, the people of the town have never forgotten the sacrifice these soldiers made. The connection between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand runs deep, with Kiwi tourists welcomed like it is their hometown and events held every year to remember the liberation and commemorate Anzac Day.
Even street names in the town are inspired by New Zealand including Rue Nouvelle-Zélande, Place des All Blacks and Rue du Dr Averill, named after Second Leutenant Leslie Averill, who was the first to ascend the ladder.
A place of deep connection
Te Arawhata opened in October 2023. It has become a place of remembrance and a cultural bridge between Aotearoa and France, welcoming travelling Kiwis, local French, British and European tourists, community groups, and schools from both France and New Zealand.
Anzac Day commemorations see hundreds visit Le Quesnoy and Te Arawhata, including many families tracing the stories of relatives who served on the Western Front.
“The Museum has inspired visitors and family members to find out more about their relatives, the part they played in the war, and to delve deeper into the lives they lived after the war. It is incredibly touching to know that the stories of these people will live on," says Museum Director, Elizabeth Wratislav.
“Te Arawhata is Aotearoa’s tūrangawaewae [place to stand], New Zealand’s place on the Western Front. Like a ladder – anarawhata – the Museum is a tool to climb higher and to forge stronger connections and friendships across the globe. The Museum is a place where people can come to remember all those who served and lost their lives during wartime.”
Find out more about the New Zealand Liberation Museum Te Arawhata.
EXPLORE MORE
.png)
