Auckland War Memorial Museum

 

Deaths in World War I on a per capita basis (warning the records were not great)

UK                    1.91 to 2.23%

New Zealand      1.52 to 1.64%

Australia            1.19 to 1.24%

Canada              0.81 to 0.93%

US                    0.13%

 

Deaths in World War II on a per capita basis

 

UK                    0.94%

New Zealand      0.72%

Australia            0.58%

Canada              0.38%

US                    0.32%

 

These tables are to explain one of the reasons the wars had such an effect on New Zealand.

The main museum in Auckland is a War Memorial.  It is a grand old building built in the neo-classical style (in 1929).  It sits in a large park, The Domain and can be seen from many places in the city.

Now I am not a great fan of museums – most of them seem to be dark underlit spaces.  But the outside of this building is a treasure. 

 

The Cenotaph sits in front of the Museum.  This is where (in normal times) one of the largest ANZAC services is held each year. 

 

As a kid one of the pleasures of visiting the museum was climbing up onto the cannons on each side!  Kids still do it today.  I also liked visiting the Victorian shops exhibit – sadly no longer there.