The Passchendaele Society was proud to have been involved as project leader for the New Zealand Memorial & Garden at the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in the village of Zonnebeke, Belgium. The Maori name is “Nga Pua Mahara – The Petals of Remembrance”. “Pua” is also a seed or flower and, in that way, represents hope for peace in the future.

The area around the villages of Zonnebeke and Passchendaele in the province of Flanders is of immense significance to New Zealand and its involvement in World War I. The New Zealand Memorial & Garden was created in remembrance of the more than 5000 New Zealanders who were killed or mortally wounded in the series of battles leading to the Battle of Passchendaele. Most still lie in the surrounding Flanders Fields. Others made it south over to the border only to die at a later date in a field dressing station or hospital and are thus buried in French soil. They are all remembered here at this permanent memorial.

The Passchendaele Memorial Park was created in the grounds of the Zonnebeke Chateau, next door to the museum. The Park includes seven small gardens designed to represent each nation involved and are all in the shape of a poppy when seen from the air. The winning design for New Zealand was submitted by Cathy Challinor of Boffa Miskell, a prominent design practice in New Zealand. The Memorial Garden will undoubtedly become the focal point for future commemorations.

The Video Documentary of the story of the New Zealand Memorial & Garden – Nga Pua Mahara -  is told from conception through to completion. The opening was on 12th October 2017 in the Passchendaele Memorial Park in Zonnebeke, Belgium.