What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
A new exhibition, called Victory, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
We are delighted to let you know that our latest exhibition, the Mighty Hercules, is now open. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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#Extraordinaryaircraft
Help us build a home for our #extraordinaryaircraft
Our Lockheed C-130H (NZ) Hercules and P-3K2 Orion have had long-term preservation work completed so they can be safely stored while we work on plans for a new permanent exhibition space large enough to house them.
Measuring 29.8m from nose to tail, with a wingspan of 40.5m and a tail soaring to just under 11m high, the Hercules is too large for our current exhibition halls. The Orion is almost as tall and even longer – stretching to 36m thanks to its submarine-detecting tail boom.
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Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
We were sorry to have to charge after being free for so many years, but the charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $16 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
An Auckland researcher and her niece have teamed up to tell the story of the contribution made by Chinese New Zealanders during World War Two.
When RNZAF serviceman George Chan passed away in 1998 his daughter Ruth Lam inherited a file he’d been working on. It contained the names and biographies of his fellow Chinese New Zealand men who had served with him during World War Two.
Ruth, a researcher and writer based in Auckland, decided to continue his good work by compiling the stories and histories of as many Chinese New Zealanders as possible who served.
She mentioned the project to her niece, journalist Melissa Chan-Green, and the pair are trying to connect with as many descendants as they can.
They’ve been researching our RNZAF files and have come up with a list of 34 Chinese New Zealand men and women who served in the air force.
George Chan was a wireless radio technician who worked on early radar systems and reached the rank of sergeant before he was discharged.
Ruth says her dad’s file had been ‘calling to her’ for many years, and a chance conversation with Melissa at Christmas sparked the project.
“I didn’t talk to dad about it and I am not sure what his intention was. Our purpose is to find all the descendants we can and talk to their families and write a book about them so they can get the recognition they deserve.’’
Prior to World War Two Chinese New Zealanders faced extensive discriminatory measures. These included the infamous poll tax of 1881, which wasn’t rescinded until 1944, and restrictions on naturalisation – which lasted until 1951.
However, Melissa says World War Two changed how the community was regarded.
“It was a turning point in attitudes towards Chinese New Zealanders because we were fighting for the same cause. There was much wider acceptance in the broader community.’’
If you’re a descendant of a Chinese New Zealand veteran with information to add please email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz and we will put you in touch. ... See MoreSee Less
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Good morning, I am very interested in obtaining any information that these two ladies can provide on George Chan and others please? Can you ask them to contact me Treese85357@gmail.com and I will send them a formal request and advise what I do.
WE'RE OPEN! We are up and running today with loads of FREE Antarctic-themed activities for the kids as part of our Explorers' Day: Ice and Sky expo.
We've got:
- Hands-on Antarctic adventures – Step inside immersive domes, polar tents, and VR headsets to experience icy landscapes, survival gear, and the wildlife of the frozen south
- Real life explorers - How do you land a plane in Antarctica? How can you build a rocket at home? How can you get a career in aerospace or Antarctica? Throughout the day you can hear from our amazing line up of speakers from across Antarctic and aerospace sectors.
- Global Antarctic connections – Discover stories and artefacts from New Zealand, China and beyond, with cultural activities, expedition images, and Antarctic heritage brought to life.
- Family-friendly fun – From colouring stations and stickers to quizzes, competitions, and augmented reality apps, there’s something engaging for all ages.
To learn more about the Explorers’ Day go to www.facebook.com/events/1339084481146666
*Apologies to Vanilla Ice once again.
#christchurchnz #explorersdayiceandsky #freethingstodoinchristchurch ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks, had a great day 👏
WONDER NO MORE: Sometimes it is not until you get up nice and close to an aircraft that you realise how large it is.
So to help you get your eye in we've developed the Average Guide Scale, and we've been busy measuring.
Our first discovery was that NZ6001 is actually a lot bigger than we thought.
It comes in at five Average Guides long by nine Average Guides wide.
If you would like us to measure more things with the Average Guide scale, please get in touch.
And NZ6001, painted in trans-Antarctic Expedition orange, will be the star of the show today at the Explorers' Day: Ice and Sky.
We've got:
- Hands-on Antarctic adventures – Step inside immersive domes, polar tents, and VR headsets to experience icy landscapes, survival gear, and the wildlife of the frozen south
- Real life explorers - How do you land a plane in Antarctica? How can you build a rocket at home? How can you get a career in aerospace or Antarctica? Throughout the day you can hear from our amazing line up of speakers from across Antarctic and aerospace sectors.
- Global Antarctic connections – Discover stories and artefacts from New Zealand, China and beyond, with cultural activities, expedition images, and Antarctic heritage brought to life.
- Family-friendly fun – From colouring stations and stickers to quizzes, competitions, and augmented reality apps, there’s something engaging for all ages.
To learn more about the Explorers’ Day go to www.facebook.com/events/1339084481146666
#christchurchnz #explorersdayiceandsky #freethingstodoinchristchurch ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
And you are all pretending to be aeroplanes as well, just like every schoolboy ever.
What timing! My wife and myself were wondering how big a Spitfire was? We've seen a few, but always flying, with no sense of scale!
The average guide scale is a quick and available le unit of measure. Have you considered using Smoots as the measure. If you are unsure Google how Smoots were developed. It's an interesting story This measure is also available on Google Earth.
As one wing appears to be 5 average guides long and the fuselage probably 2 average guides wide I would imagine that (unless the port wing is shorter than the starboard) the Beaver is not 9 avg wide but 12!
How big is Charlie? I think that's the name of our lovely herc
Awesome photo
Very cool Antarctic aviation deserves more recognition
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