Whakaahua

Craig Andrew Madsen

Papakura Museum
Level 3, 209 Great South Rd, Papakura

20 April - 20 June 2026

Open from 10am Mon - Sat. Sundays closed.

“Whakaahua” is a body of work that tells a story of transformation, following young New Zealanders as they embark on their journey into the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army | Ngāti Tūmatauenga. It captures the beginning of that journey, basic training where resilience, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence begin to take shape.

In 2017, Craig Andrew Madsen began documenting the New Zealand Army, spending 18 months in the field producing his earlier exhibition He Hōia Ahau – I Am Soldier. Since then, he has continued this work based out of Waiouru, focusing on The Army Depot, where each intake of recruits begins their 16-week journey.

“Whakaahua” embodies that experience from ‘day one’ through to the development of the skills, mindset, and identity required for a life in service.