National War Memorial Carillon strengthening and restoration

Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage

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National War Memorial Carillon strengthening and restoration

Preserving a place of remembrance for generations.

For more than 90 years, the bells of the National War Memorial Carillon have marked moments of national remembrance. Standing over 50 metres tall, the Category 1 heritage structure houses 74 bronze bells, weighing over 70 tonnes.

Funded through public donations, the bells are dedicated to individuals, military units and significant battles. The collection has grown over time, including the Rāngimarie (Peace) Bell, the largest carillon bell in the Southern Hemisphere.

Following an initial strengthening programme completed in 2018, investigations revealed further seismic vulnerabilities within the tower and bellframe. The tower was subsequently closed for an extensive strengthening and restoration programme.

The project brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, specialists and contractors. TSA Riley provided project management, Engineer's Representative and Engineer to Contract services, supporting Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage to manage programme, risk and stakeholder alignment throughout delivery.

A treasured memorial

A project of this significance required careful planning, innovative solutions and a collaborative interdisciplinary team, working through a series of unique challenges, including:

As a Category 1 heritage structure, the Carillon required a careful balance between heritage preservation and seismic resilience. TSA Riley coordinated the design and delivery of strengthening works to enhance the stability of the 51-metre tower while safeguarding its historic fabric and character.

Restricted access, the tower's internal layout and the need to protect the instrument presented challenges for the project team. Bespoke methodologies, the use of laser scanning technology and careful staging of works ensured safe and efficient strengthening within a highly constrained heritage structure.

The project team worked closely with specialist international carillon experts to support restoration, recommissioning and tuning to return the instrument to operation.

The bells ring again

The successful reopening of the National War Memorial Carillon on Anzac Day 2026 marked the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and delivery. After 14 years of silence, including through the initial strengthening works, the tolling bells signalled the completion of a complex project balancing heritage preservation and seismic resilience.