In a supposed effort to refurbish the Auckland War Memorial Museum, reclaim space, and "connect with a younger audience", the armoury is being packed into storage:
The Auckland branch of the Antique Arms Association says putting the large collection of early war weapons into storage is disrespectful to the memory of the soldiers who carried them and Aucklanders who donated them.
Many of the weapons were donated by New Zealand soldiers or their families in the late 1920s when the museum was nearing completion.
The association is angry it was not consulted about the museum's plan and says it is ironic that the weapons have been packed away during centennial commemorations for World War I.
After being an integral, and perhaps the most famous, part of the museum for nearly one hundred years, the armory has finally fallen prey to the unrelenting march of "progress". The Antique Arms Association is rightly upset that a lrge part of history is simply being packed up and hidden away.
Mr Reeves says the new exhibit will feature six guns from the armoury collection and is part of the museum's on-going refurbishment programme.
That's a relief, you can still view six select guns tucked away in a corner somewhere.
The museum refutes this saying it can't display everything it holds and that it is using different ways to engage with younger audiences.
As a kid, the armoury was my favourite part of the museum, I spent many hours of my youth closely examining every item on display. It was the primary reason why I was so excited to go to the museum. Are kids today no longer interested in the antique weapons displays or are they simply not allowed to be?
If you want to let the Auckland War Memorial Museum know your thoughts, you can contact them here: info@aucklandmuseum.com