Our Year 12 and 13 History students recently visited Te Papa as part of their preparation for their research internal, which begins in Term 2. The trip provided an opportunity to explore how museums use primary sources to build exhibits and to examine how Gallipoli is remembered as a defining event in New Zealand history. 

Before the visit, students discussed the role of historical storytelling, referencing President Trump's decision to "restore truth and sanity to American history" in museum exhibits. This led to a critical look at how enduring beliefs about New Zealand's involvement in World War One continue to shape our national identity. 

At Te Papa, students had the privilege of hearing from one of the original curators of the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition. They reflected on how the Wētā Workshop figures guide visitors through the emotional journey of soldiers.  Initially the figures depicted determination and a sense of mission in the fight ahead of them. As they moved through the exhibition the soldiers faces changed to show futility, resignation, anger, grief and finally a sense of inevitability. The students really engaged with how these exhibits told the wider story of the changing belief in the righteousness of the war. This provided a new way of considering the exhibit and added greatly to the wider understanding of the place of this war in our national identity.

The students engaged thoughtfully, asking insightful questions and demonstrating a real curiosity about the personal stories behind the exhibit. This visit will provide a strong foundation as they begin their own research into New Zealand's involvement in World War One.