Each year the Maritime Museum commemorates those who served and lost their lives in the Merchant Navy during both World Wars. This is a one-hour public service which includes the laying of the wreath at the museum’s Merchant Navy Memorial Plaque.
The museum are honoured to welcome Neill Atkinson, Chief Historian at Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage, as our keynote speaker for Merchant Navy Day. Neill is the editor of Hell or High Water: New Zealand Merchant Seafarers Remember the War, a collection of first-hand accounts of war at sea.
About Merchant Navy Day:
In 2010 the New Zealand Government announced that they would join Britain and other Commonwealth countries to commemorate those who served in the Merchant Navy during war time. The date chosen was 3rd September as this observes the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after WWII was declared. 2025 marks the 15th year of recognising the day.