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April 2012
In this newsletter, we update you on two exhibitions underway in Auckland to mark the end of the four-year Vietnam War oral history project, seek help in finding unit photographs for the digital archive, and promote a set of resources for teaching Vietnam War history in schools. In the past few months there’s been a surge in public contributions to the website – a few of these are also highlighted below.
Your comments, feedback and contributions are welcome - email us on info@vietnamwar.govt.nz
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Home Fires Burning: Remembering New Zealand's Vietnam War
Two exhibitions are now on to mark the end of the Vietnam War Oral History Project. Until May 12, the Papakura Art Gallery hosts an installation of Vietnam War veterans’ art and photography. Until June 28, the Papakura Museum hosts an exhibition exploring New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War, and the war’s ongoing impact within families and communities.
For more information see - Papakura Art Gallery flier,
Papakura and Districts Museum poster
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Highlights from the website
'Old Boys' remembered:
Forty-one ‘old boys’ from Kaitaia District High School (now Kaitaia College) fought in Vietnam. This is believed to be the highest contribution of any secondary school in New Zealand. Richard Taaffe, an ex-pupil and Vietnam veteran, has produced an Honour Roll to commemorate their service. See a photo of the Honour Roll.
Vietnam War correspondent remembers: In 1965 journalist Chris Turver went to Vietnam as war correspondent for the New Zealand Press Association. Attached to 161 Battery RNZA for three-months, he was wounded in the same landmine explosion that killed Sergeant Alastair Don and Bombardier Robert White.
Read what Chris thought about press censorship in Vietnam.
NZ VietNam Health Trust:
George Gordon served as an administrator with the New Zealand Civilian Surgical Team (NZST) in Qui Nhon, 1966-1967. In 1997, he and other former team members set up the New Zealand VietNam Health Trust to promote, maintain and develop healthcare projects within Vietnam. Listen to Gordon talk about the continuing work of the Trust.
Hangi time in Vietnam: Feeding large numbers of guests with a hangi was one of the cultural traditions New Zealanders brought with them when they served in Vietnam. Watch soldiers from Victor 5 Company enjoying a hangi at Nui Dat, circa 1970-1971.
See the film footage.
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Check the Vietnam veterans' roll
The Vietnam War nominal roll on the Vietnam website is newly updated, and we encourage veterans and their families to check the service details it contains. The extended roll is searchable by name, service number and unit and includes information on NZ visitors and civilians in the country between 1964 and 1972. It also contains information on honours and awards, and notes on New Zealand units in Vietnam.
Look through the Vietnam War nominal roll
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Putting faces to names
The Vietnam War website now contains an individual, Facebook-style page for every New Zealander who served in or visited Vietnam during the war years. The new look is part of an ongoing campaign to gather a photograph, memory or memento of every Kiwi in Vietnam during the war. Dubbed ‘Every veteran a face, every family a memory’, the campaign has so far put more than 600 faces to names in the online roll. Send photographs to
info@vietnamwar.govt.nz
Look at some of the veteran pages on the Vietnam War website - Pte Pete Rauhihi,
Ch Str Claire Jacobson,
SSgt Noel Bell,
Pte Alan Haua
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