Theme 01
Themes On the Eve of War

Promoting New Zealand

The New Zealand International Exhibition of Arts and Industries was held in Hagley Park in Christchurch from November 1906 to April 1907.

Display promoting the Christchurch Meat Company Ltd

Canterbury Museum 1955.81.75

The Exhibition promoted New Zealand’s trades, tourism and general progress to the world. Visitors encountered galleries filled with exhibits from different industries, businesses and government departments.

Canterbury promoted itself and its products with displays from around the province. The Exhibition also offered entertainment. Visitors could ride a space ship, a dragon train or visit a Māori pā (village).

Canterbury Times 1907 02 9

One in a Million

At 5.05 pm on Saturday, 26 January 1907, the Exhibition had its one millionth visitor.

For 5 minutes, Miss Alice Jennings of Christchurch tried to get in but was pushed away from the entrance gate by the crowd. When she finally made it through the turnstile, she was met by waiting officials.

She was awarded a gold watch and had her photograph taken for the newspaper. By the time the Exhibition closed almost 3 months later, nearly 2 million people had visited.

Canterbury Times, 6 February 1907

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Pocket watch presented to Miss Jennings

Canterbury Museum 1960.98.1

Star, 28 January 1907

Star 29 Jan 1907
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Canterbury Museum 2007.1.90

Souvenirs of the Show

Exhibition visitors could purchase souvenir teapots, glass jugs, badges and whole a variety of items to remember their visit.

On the Eve of War
Royal New Zealand
From Sailors to Soldiers

This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial licence.

On the Eve of War
01
01

On the Eve of War

At the turn of the twentieth century, Canterbury was one of the most prosperous provinces in New Zealand

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Going to War
02
02

Going to War

Britain’s declaration of war caused great excitement in Canterbury. Thousands enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force

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The War Away
03
03

The War Away

New Zealand soldiers and nurses endured the joys and sorrows of life at war and all had stories worth telling

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The War at Home
04
04

The War at Home

In many respects the war at home was the women’s war

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Illness, Injury and Death
05
05

Illness, Injury and Death

Up to 18.4 million people were killed and 23.7 million injured in World War One

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Lives Changed
06
06

Lives Changed

Everyone’s life was changed in some way by the War. Most New Zealanders knew someone who had died

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Reflections
07
07

Reflections

World War One prematurely ended the lives of millions and forever changed the world

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Roll of Honour
08
08

Roll of Honour

Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice by adding a poppy to the Roll of Honour

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This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial licence.