I am requesting this data in my capacity of Collection Manager, Online Cenotaph at Auckland War Memorial Museum. At the height of the WW100 project Online Cenotaph direct nearly 25% of users to the Archway WWI files. Archives New Zealand holds over 140,000 military personnel files of those who served in the New Zealand Defence Forces up to the end of 1920, including the South African War and WWI. The WW100 period significantly increased the call for the digitisation of post-WWI military personnel of Army files by members of the public. However, I am also requesting that Navy and Air Force as well as Army records be listed and ultimately digitised. This would increase access to our collective military history.

Currently having no access to Air Force and Navy records online and limited access to WWII Army records and beyond. It is a labour and resource intensive process for the NZDFA and Archives NZ to provide scans to individual requestors and a mass description / digitisation would reduce this workload. This work will also preempt the WWII Centenary coming up in 2039.

Supporting the research and whakapapa requests received by GLAM institutions all around New Zealand. To help gain a better understanding of the contribution made by military personnel with specific emphasis on Air Force and Navy that are currently not represented online in Archives New Zealand files.