Das Bunker Kāpiti owner Andy Wickens with an original Charlton automatic rifle.
Das Bunker Kāpiti owner Andy Wickens with an original Charlton automatic rifle.
With a firm pull of the handle, a super heavy-duty door slowly opens to reveal a boutique military museum.
Das Bunker Kāpiti has been specifically created under a house in Raumati Beach by enthusiast Andy Wickens.
Stepping inside the appointment-only museum, the word wow is commonly used, as peoplegaze at military firearms of all types, uniforms, helmets, equipment, blueprints and propaganda.
“My oldest item is a Brown Bess musket from the Battle of Waterloo, which was made in the Tower of London, and then ranging right up to the present day.”
Andy’s interest in military history and militaria started when he was a youngster.
Andy’s passion, further deepened by his father’s interest in aviation history, became stronger in his 20s as he started collecting various types of militaria, mainly helmets in the beginning, and having them in a secure room.
“I started off mostly interested in helmets, because as a young man you can’t do everything at once, because you don’t have the money anyway. I’ve got over 300 helmets and most of the world is represented. Then firearms and uniforms and everything that goes with it. There would be thousands of items.”
Helmets in Das Bunker Kāpiti. Photo / David Haxton
In the early days, items were bought from antique shops, other collectors, auctions, dealers overseas, and then came the internet, which opened up endless opportunities.
The key aspect, when he bought his third house, was that it had to have capacity to accommodate his growing collection.
It took three years to excavate and construct his semi-underground boutique military museum.
The secure bunker is accessed via a very heavy Chubb bank vault door from London, dating back to 1904.
There’s always a surprised reaction when people open the door and step inside. Often there’s an expletive — in a good way.
Part of Das Bunker Kāpiti. Photo / David Haxton
Military sound effects add to the atmosphere as people wander around agog.
One of Andy’s favourite items is an original Charlton automatic rifle.
“In World War II some guys turned worn-out bolt-action rifles into machine guns to give to the Home Guard against a possible Japanese invasion. The army ordered 1500 but, by the time they were made, a shipment of Bren guns from Canada arrived, so they went into storage, and were burnt in a fire, and only 13 survived. It’s one of the rarest guns in the world and it’s uniquely Kiwi. It’s significant to military history and it’s super significant to New Zealand. It looks like it’s homemade too.”
