Jackson to help develop NZ WWI exhibition
Filmmaker Peter Jackson will help develop a museum exhibition to commemorate the centenary of World War I, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced.
The temporary exhibition will be housed at Wellington's Dominion Museum building, which overlooks the National War Memorial.
The exhibition will open in April 2015 and run for the rest of the centenary period, until 2019.
Sir Peter is leading the creative team developing the exhibition.
He says the generation who served in WWI were reluctant to discuss what they had experienced.
"Now the last veteran has gone, it's appropriate that New Zealand commemorates their achievements," he said.
"This museum will not cover the strategies of the generals, but will deal with what life was like for both the Kiwi soldier leaving their families to fight a foreign war on the other side of the world, and for those left behind."
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson says the exhibition will enhance New Zealanders' understanding of WWI and its impact on the nation.
"It will draw on and complement private collections and other museums across New Zealand including the army, air force and navy service museums, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum," he said.
"It will be a tremendous addition alongside Te Papa's Gallipoli exhibition, being developed in partnership with Weta Workshop and also scheduled to open next year."
