New medals museum opens after thefts

The damaged cabinets where VC's and George medals were stolen from the Army Museum. A new home for the medals opened today. File photo / NZPA

A new medal repository has been opened at The National Army Museum in Waiouru following a series of high profile thefts.

The repository was formally opened by the Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman today and will house the army museum's 10,000-strong collection.

The repository is described as "vault-like" and allows visitors to view any set of donated medals via an interactive touch screen.

The museum's director, Colonel (Rtd) Ray Seymour, said that for many families medals remained the only tangible link to their departed relatives.

"Viewing these medals can be a highly emotional experience. With the new repository the museum has broken down the barriers between visitors and the medals and successfully achieved a haven to honour those remembered."

Dr Coleman said the repository displayed collection in a fitting, secure way.

It was discovered in 2011 that Keith Davies stole a total of 750 medals when he was working as the museum's registrar.

He was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to seven charges of theft as a servant, obtaining by deception, false pretences and theft.

Davies' high level of security clearance enabled him to alter records to cover up his offending.

He went undiscovered for eight years after he had left the museum.

The museum's marketing manager, Nicola Bennett, said about 135 medals are still missing.

In 2007 Ronald van Wakeren and James Kapa broke into the museum and stole 96 medals, including a Victoria Cross won by Charles Upham.

In February 2008, the medals were returned after a deal brokered by barrister Chris Comeskey.

When the two men handed back the medals they were each given a $100,000 reward. Van Wakeren returned his, but Kapa never did.

They were sentenced to 13 years and three months' jail, after appealing their original sentences.

August 16 was chosen as the date of the repository's opening because it is a special anniversary for one of New Zealand's most highly decorated heroes, Sergeant Reginald Judson.

Sergeant Judson led a charge against a German machine-gun nest on August 16, 1918.

Between July and August 1918 he won every gallantry medal available to a non-commissioned officer at that time - the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and the Military Medal.