On 25 April 2016, France will launch an architectural competition in New Zealand which will see the winning team commissioned to design the French memorial to be inaugurated at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on the 100th anniversary of World War I in 2018.

The design of the memorial, a gift from France to New Zealand and its people, will prioritise creative dialogue between the two countries. A France / New Zealand symposium was held in France from 6-12 December 2015 to establish the creative brief of the memorial in regards to aesthetic, design and purpose. 

 The symposium included the following New Zealanders: Lt-Gen. Rhys Jones, playwright and newspaper columnist Dave Armstrong, architect Stephen McDougall, writer Elizabeth Knox, film producer Robin Laing and Maori military historian Dr. Monty Soutar.

The work of this symposium was itself based on the material gathered through a series of interviews with more than 30 New Zealand personalities (artists, historians, designers, writers, and prominent New Zealanders involved in the commemorations of the Great War).

“The symposium became a very powerful moment as we got to experience the deep trauma WWI has left behind, understanding the difference between how the French and New Zealanders lived through the challenges of war. This is an opportunity for the memorial to not only reflect these rich and diverse strands commemorating the horror of World War One but also to celebrate the bond formed between the two countries. The memorial will make a very positive contribution to Pukeahu Park,” commented architect Stephen McDougall.

The architectural design competition will be split into two stages. Stage one will be at a concept design level. This step is an open competition to any team, local or international, involving at least one New Zealand registered architect, and/or practices, academics and/or graduates who are members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. Stage two will be limited to a maximum of 3 entries selected from stage one to submit a full proposal.

Competition programme

• 25 April – 30 June: Public announcement, publicity and call for expressions of interest
• 3 August: Public announcement of Stage Two selected entries
• 1 August – 5 October: Stage Two proposals developed and submitted
• 12 October – 4 November: Jury prepares report on Stage Two entries
• 7 October – 11 November: Public exhibition of Stage Two entries
• 11 November: Public announcement of design competition winner

The competition brief will be released on 25 April 2016 here, and the winner will be announced on 11 November 2016. 

The list of main criteria and guidelines for the design of the memorial is available on the website.

Follow progress and get involved through the hashtag #FRMemorialNZ.