Get Armed for Action at MOTAT’s Military Month

26 March 2013

Get Armed for Action at MOTAT’s Military Month

MOTAT’s famed annual Military Weekend event is back and this year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before.

MOTAT is amplifying the armed action this year, bringing Military Weekend to Aucklanders and visitors on 6-7 April 2013, and then extending the action for another whole month of military activities.

To kick things off, Military Weekend has intriguing activities for the whole family including riveting firepower displays, military vehicle rides and re-enactments of famous battles that will focus on the North Africa campaign and the Long Range Desert Group.

MOTAT Chief Executive Officer, Michael Frawley, says the overwhelming popularity of MOTAT Military Weekend lead to the Museum extending it to a fully-fledged Military Month.

“Kiwis have a real enthusiasm for learning about the military world and the related events we have here at MOTAT, and I can see why.

“From our remarkable wartime memorabilia to the volunteers who re-enact some of the historic battles of the past – there is so much to see and experience. New Zealanders have been involved in a number of major conflicts so there is a rich history to discover. Everyone should come along to MOTAT during Military Month to see history unfold in the most interesting and interactive way,” says Mr Frawley.

“During Military Month, MOTAT will also be offering kids an interactive school Holiday Experience, ‘Soldier, Soldier,’ running from 20 April – 5 May 2013, which will give kids an interesting taste of military life.

“A highlight of the Holiday Experience will be a ‘Boot Camp’ Commando Course that will put kids through their paces. With a real drill instructor giving the orders, kids will have fun earning their stripes as they tackle the thrilling obstacle course.”

Throughout Military Month, ‘The Armoury’ will give visitors of all ages the chance to try on armour ranging from medieval chainmaille to a modern bulletproof vest. What’s more, MOTAT’s world-class collection of wartime memorabilia will be on display, including military aircraft from MOTAT’s multi award-winning Aviation Display Hall and military vehicles dating back to WWI.

Interactive ‘Make n Take’ activities will also be available every weekend in April and every day of the school holidays so the kids have a memento of their MOTAT military experience. With lots of different options running, the kids can keep coming back for more and be easily occupied learning how to camouflage helmets, make their very own medals, or create propaganda posters.

Mr Frawley said that it must be remembered that Military Month is also an ideal opportunity to reflect on New Zealand’s contribution to the various military campaigns and the associated sacrifice that some of our armed forces colleagues have made.

MOTAT visitors can enjoy Military Month activities for free with their normal entry to MOTAT, so round up the troops and get to MOTAT for an action-packed month that will be hard to forget!

What’s on during Military Month

Daily, 1 April-5 May – ‘The Armoury’ interactive display, MOTAT’s Military Collection and Aviation Display Hall.
6-7 April: Military Weekend – Battle re-enactments, firepower demonstrations, military vehicle rides, hands-on displays and interactions with re-enactors.
20 April – 5 May: ‘Soldier, Soldier’ – Boot Camp Commando Course, decoder wheel ‘Code Cracker’ activity, ‘Little Flick’ fire engine rides.
April Weekends – ‘Make n Take’ activities (learn to camouflage your helmet, create a propaganda poster and make a medal), ‘Little Flick’ fire engine rides.

ENDS

© Scoop Media