ABOUT: 

OUR-WAR (WWII) is a project undertaken to mark the 70/75th anniversary milestones of World War II. The aim is to record, share and celebrate the stories of New Zealand men and women from our wartime generation; and to make them easily-accessible and engaging to current and future generations using digital media.

Believed to be one of the largest projects of its type ever done in NZ, we sought to interview and record professionally as many of the remaining veterans as we could; covering as complete a range of topics, themes and experiences of the times as possible; and to reach every district and town in the country - to make it a truly nationally representative story collection.

Undertaken over the duration of more than a decade, hundreds of interviews were recorded, with a selection of 500 going into this first project format - an online interactive oral-history/story archive to be based at a number of national museums/centres. These interviews have been supplemented by scores of letters, diary excerpts and memoirs, and related objects etc. This first prototype includes nearly 1,000 hours of edited video, and 5,000+ photographs. Later stages will add content from other sources and other formats.  

This material doesn't claim (or try) to be a definitive factual war history. Others have done that well already. OUR-WAR is a memory project. Personal histories. Viewers/listeners will find often deeply personal and intimate recollections of times that for many participants, were amongst the most emotional and keenly-felt of their lives; and that remain vivid after all these years. Most stories have never been told publically before. Some have never been told to anyone, even their families.

THIS WORK-IN-PROGRESS PREVIEW WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, AIR FORCE MUSEUM WIGRAM, NAVY MUSEUM TORPEDO BAY & MOTAT. OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED (SEE 'CREDITS'), ESPECIALLY OUR VETERAN MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Note: Due to extensive use of streaming video and images, faster broadband internet connection is required for best viewing. Speakers or headphones are recommended for audio.