State of the Art Archives Facility Opened at Trentham Military Camp

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General (LTGEN) Tim Keating opened the newly refurbished New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Archives and Medals Office building at Trentham Military Camp yesterday.

In order to comply with the Public Records Act 2005 requirements for storage, preservation and maintenance of public documents and records, the building is now temperature and humidity controlled, with electronic mobile shelving equipment and areas for the recovery of documents in the event of a disaster.

LTGEN Keating said that the state of the art facility reflected the significance of the service records of so many people.

“NZDF Personnel Archives is the keeper of this important information. It’s an irreplaceable part of our history and culture that that should be preserved for future generations of NZDF personnel and the public of New Zealand.”

NZDF Archives holds the files of all those who joined and served in New Zealand’s military forces from the 1 January 1921 to the present day, as well as the last few files of First World War veterans who continued to serve after 1 January 1921 or who re-enlisted to serve during the Second World War.

More than 180,000 records covering the South African and First World War and the majority of those from World War 1 who re-enlisted in World War II have already been transferred to Archives New Zealand. NZDF Archives is working closely with Archives New Zealand to locate and transfer the last of these files so that they can be digitised and available for viewing on the Archives New Zealand website in time for the WW100 commemorations.

Anyone can apply for service records of personnel by visiting the Personnel Records section of the NZDF website: http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/accessing-military-service-records.htm
ENDS

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