Theme 03
Themes The War Away

A Gift to Britain

Originally commissioned as a gift from New Zealand to Britain, the New Zealand was launched in 1911.

HMS New Zealand

Courtesy of Barry O’Sullivan. All Rights Reserved

Two years later the ship embarked on a 10-month tour of the British dominions, which included a stop at its namesake country.

Numerous items were gifted to the Captain along its journey, including a hei tiki from Christchurch brewery manager C J Sloman.

WW069 180802

Hei tiki

Canterbury Museum E132.16

Battle Charms

According to naval lore, the New Zealand made it through three significant battles thanks to a piupiu (flax skirt) and this hei tiki. The story started when an unnamed Māori chief alleged that if the Captain wore the piupiu, the ship and its crew would be safe.

The ship’s Captain, Lionel Halsey, must have assumed the hei tiki had similar powers. When war broke out, Halsey dutifully wore both into battle. As predicted, the battlecruiser made it through without any casualties.

The War Away
Flying with the British
From Antarctica to War

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.