Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019
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Bringing history back to life Hayley Gastmeier Nothing much more than a stone wall remains of the Featherston Military Training Camp – an almost invisible historical landmark along State Highway 2 in Tauherenikau. Dubbed by historians as one of Wairarapa’s “most important sites”, the World War I camp was later rebuilt to become the Prisoner of War Camp that held captured Japanese soldiers during World War II. An innovative project will ensure the camps are not forgotten, with New Zealand’s largest military training camp to be recreated in 3D. The project is being spearheaded by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, which is holding a public meeting at Anzac Hall in Featherston on October 23 at 6.30pm to discuss the initiative with and to show designs to the Wairarapa community. Heritage New Zealand is working with Boffa Miskell design consultancy on the project, in consultation with South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) and the Featherston Community Board (FCB). Heritage New Zealand is anticipating that the project will be completed sometime in 2020. The conventional portion of the project will entail landscaping, paths, and informative signs at the Messines Layby, a commemoration site with various monuments pertaining to the camps. The “cutting-edge” portion of the project will be a 3D model of the camp that will be made accessible
with a mobile phone using a quick response (QR) code. Wairarapa Archive historian Gareth Winter said it was exciting that something significant was being done to properly mark the two camps. “This is one of Wairarapa’s most important sites and has not been given the prominence it deserves. “Tens of thousands of men trained there before going overseas, and far too many never returned to New Zealand. “Hundreds of New Zealand soldiers served as guards at the prisoner of war camp, and many prisoners, mainly Japanese, spent time there. “Heritage New Zealand’s proposals sound really good and it’s fabulous that they are involving the community.” SWDC amenities and solid waste manager Bryce Neems said the council was very supportive of the project. “It will help people visualise what the camp looked like back then. It’s keeping history alive and promoting the significance of Featherston’s past.” Destination Wairarapa general manager David Hancock said the project demonstrated an excellent use of technology, aiding tourism. “Tourists and visitors arrive here with smartphones and this approach, using technology to bring history to life, really enhances their experience. Continued on page 4
Image of the barracks at Featherston Military Camp, circa 1914-1916. PHOTO/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE
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