Great War Stories 3 - HMS New Zealand

This first episode from the third series of Great War Stories chronicles HMS New Zealand, a navy battleship that served in the Royal Navy (New Zealand didn’t have a navy in World War I). The ‘first class battleship’ was paid for by New Zealand to aid British sea power. Nearly half the population of New Zealand visited the ship when it visited in 1913. Its role in the Battle of Jutland is explored, including a ‘lucky charm’ piupiu worn by its captain in battle. The series of short documentaries screened during TV3’s nightly news, as part of Great War centennial commemorations.

We distant sons desire to stand in any peril beside the lion mother of our race, and to the upmost of our resources prove to her, and to the world, how dear to us is Britain's name and greatness.

– Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward on why New Zealand should fund the battleship

Key Cast & Crew

Jeffrey Thomas

As: Voice of Joseph Ward

Anna Cottrell

Director, Writer, Producer

Tom Clarke

As: Voice of The NZ Herald

Kerryn Pollock

Research

John Patrick

Sound Recordist

David Filer

Research