Management

Managing Poppy Places

Poppy Places is managed by the Remembrance Committee of the RNZRSA.

Poppy Places was established to develop, promote, and oversee this nation-wide project to commemorate and recognise this part of the military heritage of New Zealanders. Poppy Places encourages New Zealanders to:

  • Identify places in New Zealand which have a link to our military involvement in a conflict or operational service overseas
  • Research and record the history of these places on the website
  • Link what we have today with the recorded history

In addition, Poppy Places will:

  • Generally, support the education and awareness of New Zealanders about our military history and heritage and the association with place names
  • Work with local, regional, and central government, the RNZRSA, New Zealand Defence Force, heritage genealogy and other organisations or community groups to advance the objectives of Poppy Places
  • Establish and maintain a verified central repository of Poppy Places
  • Share the research and records for the benefit of the community and the national heritage of New Zealand.

The Poppy may also be placed on such places as buildings, memorials and plaques to denote a place’s significance.

All of the stories are retained and can be accessed from the website.

History of Poppy Places

Poppy Places was created by the New Zealand Poppy Places Trust in 2013 at the time of the World War 1 Commemorations (WW100).  It was from an idea by Colonel (Retired) Terry McBeth assisted by trustees: Major (Retired) Joseph Bolton as the project manager, Major General (Retired) Lou Gardiner, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John Masson, Major (Retired) Phillip Blundell, Brian Bray, Wayne Guppy and Bruce Peddie.

They worked with the RNZRSA to use the poppy, the New Zealand Transport Agency to mount the poppy on road signs, and Local Government New Zealand to promote Poppy Places.  

Transition to the RNZRSA

In 2024, to ensure ongoing stewardship due to the advancing age of its trustees, the NZ Poppy Places Trust transitioned its responsibilities to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA) for the continued oversight of Poppy Places.