Fields of Endeavour

The LegendNZ Centre proposes to tell the stories of famous Kiwis, mainly men from the worlds of adventure, sport and warfare. Virtual reality headsets and “3D/4D” theatre experiences would enable visitors to experience historic events for themselves.

● Kiwi Edventure: The story of Sir Edmund Hillary’s adventures in Nepal, India and Antarctica. Visitors could climb a mock-up of the Hillary Step to the summit of Mt Everest while wearing a VR headset that makes the journey “a vertigo-inducing reality”. You’d then sit in a 3D/4D theatre to travel by tractor to the South Pole and by jet boat up the Ganges River, from the “Ocean to the Sky”.

● Kiwi’s Cup (aka Red Socks Central): The story of New Zealand’s involvement in the America’s Cup, in which, using a VR headset, you can take the helm.

● Kiwi Heaven: The stories of “our greatest All Blacks”.

● Kiwi Bravehearts: The stories of “our greatest soldiers from the Maori Wars through to Afghanistan, including Charles Upham, Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu and Willie Apiata”. Visitors who are “age appropriate” could use VR headsets to “experience the battles”.

● Kiwis Can Fly!: “The stories of pioneering aviator Richard Pearse and long-distance aviatrix Jean Batten; top WWII fighter ace Group Captain Colin Gray and Battle of Britain commander Air Chief Marshall Sir Keith Park.” VR flight simulator experiences would include flying Pearse’s monoplane, taking part in an aerial dog-fight, flying a Skyhawk around Mt Taranaki and landing a Hercules on the sea ice in Antarctica.

● Kiwis In Space: Take a simulated trip into space, with Rocket Lab.

● Kiwi Movie Magic: How about touring Rivendell with Elrond and exploring Middle Earth on the back of an eagle?

● Kiwis Care: Humanitarian efforts, including Hillary’s school and hospital achievements in Nepal and Fred Hollows’ work restoring sight in Australia, Asia, Africa and India.