There has been a rise in the number of visitors to the National Army Museum in Waiouru since 96 stolen military medals were put back on display.
Twelve sets of medals, including nine Victoria Crosses and two George Medals, were stolen in December 2007 and recovered two months later.
Museum director Raymond Seymour says the theft of the medals generated a huge amount of publicity and since they were handed back to the museum in October, visitor numbers have gone up by 20%.
Colonel Seymour says more people now realise what a treasure trove of the nation's taonga is in the musuem.
