The New Zealand Medical Corps was officially formed on 12 July 1908 but its origins can be traced back to the earliest days of the fledgling colony established in the Bay of Islands. Militia regiments there had a surgeon appointed to the unit, and therefore it could be said they were the original founders of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps.
The surgeons – along with ambulance drivers, medics/orderlies and of course, nurses – have played an important part in our military history that is often overlooked. With this in mind, the museum has developed a permanent display that tells the history of these unsung heroes and heroines – their unwavering commitment to the task at hand, and how their work often kept morale high amongst the troops in spite of tough conditions, and often a heavy stream of casualties.
Address:
Corner State Highway One
and Hassett Drive
Waiouru, New Zealand
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