Help commemorate Kiwi soldiers who died at Gallipoli

Our district libraries are commemorating the 2,721 Kiwi soldiers who died at Gallipoli in World War I by having the same number of poppies handmade by the community. The finished poppies will be displayed in Kāpiti libraries.

Currently, 2,000 poppies have been made in different mediums - knitted, crocheted, painted and embellished. But more are needed!

“We’ve already had a great response from school groups, dedicated individuals and the regular Time For a Yarn groups at our libraries,” says Tiriata Thorne, Council’s Heritage and Māori Collections Coordinator.

“Word about the project has even spread outside the district with a bunch of poppies arriving by post from Wanganui!”

“Over the next two months we will have poppy-making workshops and craft tables set up at Ōtaki, Waikanae and Paraparaumu libraries. So come along and make a poppy with us or pick up a pattern so you can do some at home or school.”

Dates for the workshops will be advertised at libraries and on www.kapiticoastlibraries.govt.nz

Anzac Day on 25 April this year will mark 100 years since the Gallipoli landing. To help commemorate this important event, our district libraries launched the poppy project in April 2014.