Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Ngā Tapuwae Western Front trails released

Hon Maggie Barry

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
19 October 2015 Media Statement

Ngā Tapuwae Western Front trails released

A new interactive guide to New Zealand’s First World War history on the Western Front is now available to download, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.

“The Ngā Tapuwae Western Front Trails take visitors around places of special significance to our history, such as Passchendaele and the Somme,” Ms Barry says.

“A free smartphone and tablet app that accompanies the trails has been released and gives people the chance to follow in the footsteps of our soldiers and find out more about their experience on the Western Front.”

Ngā Tapuwae Western Front follows the release of Ngā Tapuwae Gallipoli in March. Both the trails and accompanying apps include dramatic first-hand accounts taken from the letters and diaries of those who fought as well as historical information, directions and travel advice.

“More than 12,400 New Zealanders lost their lives in the horrific conditions of the Western Front. They faced unimaginable danger, hardship and suffering in the trenches and the Ngā Tapuwae trails help to bring their story to all of us.”

Ms Barry recorded the narration for the soldier’s personal stories for the Western Front trails, as she did for Ngā Tapuwae Gallipoli.

“I offered to narrate in memory of my grandfather, who was a veteran of the Sinai Campaign. Introducing the personal stories of the soldiers who fought in battles where there were horrific deaths and casualties, and the impact on those they left behind, was a very moving experience.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Ngā Tapuwae Western Front includes trails in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The five trails in Belgium focus on the battlefields at Passchendaele and Messines, the four in France explore the famous tunnels at Arras and the Somme battlefields, while the trail in the UK will take visitors around former New Zealand hospitals and training camps.

“On my recent visit to Europe I opened and unveiled four interpretive signs and two dioramas which form part of the trails. The trails are a legacy project for the WW100 commemorations and will stand as a reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of those who came before us.”

People can experience the trails in three ways: download the apps, explore trail highlights on the Ngā Tapuwae website or print off paper guides available online.

The Ngā Tapuwae Western Front app is available now for Apple and Android devices, and is free to download.

More information about the Ngā Tapuwae New Zealand First World War Trails can be found at www.ngatapuwae.govt.nz


ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.