Anzac Day 2020 special screening

With the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions, Anzac Day 2020 turned out quite different to previous years. In person commemorations were cancelled and much of the rememberance moved online. Ngā Taonga were pleased to partner with the National Library of New Zealand – Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, NZ on Air and filmmaker Anna Cottrell to share a special screening of Great War Stories.

Anna Cottrell has produced five series of Great War Stories, mini documentaries which she calls ‘haiku’ documentaries. Women, men, Māori, Pacifica and others tell their stories through the letters and diaries held in the Alexander Turnbull library and memories handed down to iwi and families. This special screening is introduced by Lawrence Wharerau, Outreach Curator Māori Specialist at Ngā Taonga. Watch the full video below:

You can also learn more about each of these stories at the National Library.