Rotorua Museum helps families get creative while remembering on Anzac Day

Nieve Chadwick holding up her Anzac Day wreath. Photo/Shauni James

Families were able to get creative while reflecting and remembering together as they took part in Rotorua Museum craft activities on Anzac Day.

The activities were held at the Te Runanga Tea House in the Government Gardens.

Children were colouring in and making little Anzac wreaths, and people were able to write a message and put it on remembrance boards with a poppy.

Rotorua Museum event co-ordinator Kathy Nicholls says they had bursts around the parade and Civic Service, but numbers taking part were fairly steady.

"It's nice to still be able to offer somewhere people can put a poppy, like they would have in the museum in the 28th Maori Battalion exhibition."

She says the activities were another way of helping children understand what the day was all about, while keeping them engaged.

She says the crafts also allowed parents to take time to write a message and reflect while the children were busy.

Many people were enjoying the Government Gardens and the memorial bridge, and it was nice to see people out and about, she says.

Rotorua's Dana Frost says her family went along to the gardens to enjoy the sunshine and saw men marching through and laying wreaths.

She thought the crafts were great and they talked with their children Ave, 7, and Cohen Frost, 5, about why they were doing the wreaths.

"It's about coming together and celebrating in one place."

Ave says it is great to commemorate Anzac Day and Cohen says it is fun to colour in.

Lindsey Chadwick says her family lives in Auckland but they come to Rotorua two or three times a year.

"It's quite special to us."

She says it is important for her child to recognise what Anzac Day is about.

They went to the Civic Service which she described as beautiful.

Lindsey thought the Anzac crafts run by the Rotorua Museum were fantastic and says her daughter had a blast.

"I think it's great because it brings Anzac Day to their level and age."

She is originally from the United Kingdom and her grandfather was stationed in Egypt with a Maori Battalion.

There are photos of him with some of the Maori soldiers there.