Until recently, the unsung heroes of Aotearoa New Zealand’s WWII home front efforts went largely unrecognised.

‘Land girls’ of the Women’s Land Service, an organisation formed under the Women’s War Service Auxiliary in 1942, played a vital role in the country’s agricultural and food production industries while large numbers of men served in the armed forces overseas.

Explore the history of the Women’s Land Service in Aotearoa in our new exhibition Home Front Heroines, and discover the personal stories of noble, hard-working Hakatere Ashburton women who served their country admirably despite the challenges and discrimination they faced.