The Oral History Project commenced in 1991 as part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy. The project's aim is to provide a voice for the sailors who have come before, so that we may hold detailed accounts of their recollections of our history.
The oral histories encompass veterans' memories from as early as WW1 and extend to include our current serving naval personnel recently returned from duties in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, East Timor and the Sinai.
Oral history is an important method of collecting unique and personal recollections - historical evidence that might otherwise be lost forever. The recorded and transcribed interviews provide an important source of material, which helps to create a fuller understanding of our past. These testimonials provide a unique insight into the naval life of men and women during war and peace.
The recounting of the testimony can be harrowing and emotional for an interviewee who may never have discussed the details of his or her experiences with anyone before. We are mindful, therefore, of the Museum's great responsibility in handling the memories we have unlocked, and much time and effort is dedicated to the physical preservation of the recorded material and to the careful dissemination of such precious and sensitive recollections trusted to our care.