Origins of a memorial
The idea of a war memorial for Auckland emerged in the aftermath of World War I. Across the city, communities grieved the thousands of lives lost and sought a way to honour those who had served and died. Rather than build a statue or single monument, Aucklanders chose to create something lasting — a war memorial museum that would serve both as a civic institution and as a place of remembrance.
Public funds were in part raised through a major subscription campaign, uniting citizens across the region in support of a permanent memorial. The resulting building was designed as a neo-classical temple to knowledge and memory. Set atop Pukekawa, a site already steeped in cultural significance, the Museum opened and was formally consecrated on 28 November 1929.
From its inception, the Museum was intended to embody both knowledge and memory, a place where communities could gather, learn, and remember. This legacy continues today.
A living memorial
The Museum’s war memorial function is not limited to formal spaces like the Hall of Memories — it is embedded across our galleries, exhibitions, individual taonga, collections (both onsite and digital), protocol events, public programmes, and storytelling. Whether through interpretive displays, educational resources, or reflective writing, the commemorative purpose is present in all facets of our work. The Museum building itself is a taonga: a physical and symbolic expression of remembrance, built by and for the people of Auckland to honour those who served.
This function is further carried out through research, education, and digital outreach. Online Cenotaph, as a digital space of remembrance, is also considered a commemorative space, one that enables people to honour those who served by uploading tributes, and contributing to our collective memory. Spaces such as the Hall of Memories and related galleries are sacred places imbued with the mana of those who served and the aroha of their descendants.
The Museum does not frame war and conflict around conquest or victory. Instead, it is interpreted through a lens of honour, compassion, remembrance, legacy, peace, and shared values. The more than 15,000 names engraved in the WWI and WWII Halls of Memories are not anonymous — they are tūpuna, loved ones, and members of enduring communities.
Commemorative responsibilities
As a kaitiaki of both taonga and memory, the Museum has a legislative and moral duty to ensure its commemorative functions uphold the dignity of those who served. This responsibility informs our language, storytelling, public programming, and the ways we engage with communities and respond to external requests.
The Museum's dual mandate — as both a cultural institution and a war memorial — is unique in Auckland. Balancing interpretation and preservation, openness and reverence, is a responsibility we carry with deep commitment.
We acknowledge that remembrance means different things to different people. Our approach prioritises authenticity, respect, and the preservation of mana — both of the individuals and or groups whose stories are told, and of the communities who continue to carry their legacy.
Whether visiting in person, engaging online, or developing projects that reference our shared history, all interactions with the war memorial and associated functions should be approached with care and consideration.
Our team is available to support respectful engagement, offering guidance around appropriate tone, language, and use of space, particularly for filming, programming, or storytelling in these taonga spaces.
Upholding protocol
The Museum’s Protocol team plays a central role in upholding the dignity of commemorative events, including visits from veterans, dignitaries, and international military representatives. These engagements are guided by tikanga, military tradition, and the values of respect and remembrance.
Many of our commemorative events are developed in close collaboration with partners such as the New Zealand Defence Force, Auckland Council, and the Auckland Returned and Services Association. We gratefully acknowledge their ongoing support in helping us uphold the commemorative responsibilities entrusted to the Museum and to the communities we serve.
Legislative foundation
The Museum’s role as a war memorial is formally recognised under the Auckland War Memorial Museum Act 1996. The Act defines the governance responsibilities of the Auckland Museum Trust Board and confirms the commemorative function as central to the Museum’s purpose.
Section 13 of the Act sets out the Museum’s objectives, including the recording and presentation of the history and environment of Auckland, the South Pacific, and the wider world; the conservation of the heritage of the Museum and of global resources; and the Museum’s role as a war memorial.
Section 25 further ensures that there is free public access to memorial sanctuaries, including the Hall of Memories during Museum opening hours, underscoring the importance of these spaces as sites of collective remembrance.
An enduring role
Auckland War Memorial Museum’s commemorative responsibilities extend well beyond any single date or event. This work is part of our daily life — expressed through care, storytelling, conservation and preservation, and the way we welcome manuhiri into these spaces and platforms.
Remembrance is a collective effort. Across the organisation and through the dedication of our volunteers. Whether maintaining the building, curating exhibitions, guiding visitors, supporting ceremonies, or researching service histories, this work continues every day.
Commemoration is also reflected in our daily rituals. Each evening, the Last Post is sounded throughout the Museum, accompanied by karakia and the Ode of Remembrance. This quiet act of reflection reminds us that remembrance lives not only in ceremony but in the everyday rhythm of the Museum.
The work of remembrance does not begin and end on Anzac Day or Armistice Day — it is carried forward each day, in every interaction and every decision we make.
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou
We will remember them