What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, 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.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
Learn More
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.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
GOING TO THE CHAPEL: Steve Harbott’s been back to Wigram to visit and recall the happiest day of his life!
That was election day in November 1972, when Steve Harbott walked down the aisle in the Wigram Base Chapel to marry young Susan Broadbent.
Susan’s dad was serving in the RNZAF at Wigram at the time, and so they decided to get married in the chapel on base.
Today, 53 years later, they’re still married and living in Blenheim.
Steve joined the RNZAF in 1973, serving 18 months before a baby was on the way right at the time he received a posting away from RNZAF Base Wigram.
The young couple decided to put family life first, cutting short his RNZAF career.
However, his love for aircraft, which was kindled watching Harvards and Mustangs flying out of Wigram in the 1950s, has been burning strong ever since.
In his spare time Steve is a volunteer at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre up the road in Marlborough.
He visits aviation museums on holiday!
His favourite aircraft of all time is the Supermarine Spitfire, an excellent choice.
Thanks for your service and for your visit Steve! ... See MoreSee Less
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Very cool. We actually also got married in this chapel too.....but in 2005! Had the reception in the old Officers mess ( now the Wigram Hotel).
GNOME SWEET GNOME: Lynn Buttle dropped in from Kaikoura the other day to check on our Bleriot - and the engine he built for it.
The Bleriot XI-2, which takes pride of place in our atrium, is a replica built for our museum back in the late 1980s.
Lynn was an RNZAF engine fitter who served at Wigram for five years. Building the 80-horsepower Gnome engine for the Bleriot was on his list of jobs to do while he was posted to Wigram.
He joined the RNZAF in 1959 and served until 1971, retiring as a Flight Sergeant. He then rejoined again for the museum project.
A Bleriot 'high-speed' monoplane was New Zealand's first military aircraft, flying briefly in 1914 before it was shipped back to Europe.
Thanks for the Gnome Lynn, and for dropping in to#rnzafpastandpresentf#bleriotresent #bleriot ... See MoreSee Less
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Lynn is a very good friend of my family and dad F/S Jerry Marshall. In 1988, he let me join him in the cockpit of Bristol Freighter ZK-CLT/‘NZ5913’ for an engine run after swapping the engines from the museums NZ5903. The Bristol was being prepared for a ferry flight to Woodbourne before heading offshore to Canada. It must have infected me with some kind of disorder because 20 years later, the Marlborough Aero Club let me bring their long dormant Bristol ZK-CPT back to life. Everyone loves big Bristols 🤗 youtu.be/pXDw_670JJk?si=70GRpA5h_uZ1xfCu
Many happy memories of working with Lynn at Wigram.
Lynn was one of my Engine Mechs course Instructors at 4TTS Woodbourne in late 1975 to early 1976 so I’m not sure about the date stating he served until 1971, as I expect that he served longer than that?
theres a name from the past.
Hi Lynn - great to see you are still into unusual and complex projects. I remember you were tracking solar energy from the power plant bay office window long before solar was a thing! Those were the days.
Think you were more than seriously effected Al, no cure for you 🙂🙂
Great
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HOME FOR HEROES: The Air Force Museum of New Zealand is creating a purpose-built Exhibition Hall to house two of our nation’s iconic aircraft, the C-130 Hercules and the P-3 Orion.
These aircraft have served New Zealand with distinction for decades, supporting rescue missions, disaster relief, military operations, and countless moments that shaped our history.
For the first time, visitors will be able to see these incredible aircraft side-by-side, explore their stories, and experience their scale up close—completely free to the public.
Early support is crucial to bring this vision to life. Every donation, big or small, helps us get closer to opening the doors.
Let’s give our heroes the home they deserve!
DONATE HERE: ... See MoreSee Less
Help us build a new home for the Hercules and Orion
airforcemuseum.co.nz
Donate Now - Your support will bring these iconic aircraft together in a purpose-built Exhibition Hall.Comment on Facebook
Hopefully shopping in the museum online shop also supports the fundraising effort 🤭. It's a good shop!