Western Bay Museum Explores Untold Stories of Two World Wars

A new exhibition at Western Bay Museum is inviting the community to confront the true human and animal cost of war. Launched on 28 March and set to run for several months, Unexpected Heroes tells the stories of five New Zealanders with strong local connections who each experienced the world wars in different ways.

The exhibition also shines a light on animals as unexpected heroes, acknowledging that millions of them died alongside the men and women they served. Museum manager Paula Gaelic said the sobering tone was deliberate, drawing a direct line between historical conflicts and the world today. "How little we have learned, as here in 2026 we are still doing it!" she said, referencing the fact that World War I was once called 'The Great War' because it was supposed to end all wars.

With Anzac Day approaching, Gaelic said she wanted audiences to truly reflect on whether anything had been learned from those sacrifices. She encouraged all Western Bay residents to visit the exhibition and engage with its stories, images and first-hand accounts.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).