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What happened that day?

War and Society

19th-century wars

The 19th-century wars – both at home and abroad – that changed the face of New Zealand.

First World War

The First World War had a seismic impact on New Zealand, reshaping the country's perception of itself and its place in the world.

Second World War

It remains the world's greatest-ever conflict. The Second World War claimed the lives of 50 million people, including 1 in every 150 New Zealanders.

Post Second World War

They were conflicts that were part of the 'Cold War'. Between the late 1940s and early 1970s, New Zealanders fought in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.

War memorials and mascots

Essays about war memorials from the South African and First World Wars and a feature on military mascots