August 13, 2013
Works starts on Battalion museum
Monty Soutar, who collected many of the photographs and memorabilia in researching his book on the battalion, says the success of an exhibition five years ago convinced battalion trustees a permanent home was needed.
Funding for the $1.2 million building next to the Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne came from East Coast iwi, land trusts, whānau, council and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
He says yesterday’s sod turning ceremony highlighted the need to get moving while some veterans are still alive.
"Nolan Raihania sitting there as the sole veteran sitting on the trust is relieved and wants to see this building go up while he's around on behalf of his mates who have passed on. We also had the Bishop of Aotearoa there who is a returned man from the Māori Battalion, Brown Turei. It was great having two of them there, and I think we are as relieved as them to know we are starting. The money is in the bank, we know we can cover this, and April next year we hope to open this building," Dr Souter says.
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