New 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 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. While it was a day to celebrate, there was still a war in the Pacific to fight.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about VE Day with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
New 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.
Learn More
#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.
Learn More
Update
New charge for overseas visitors
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.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
BATTLE OF BRITAIN SPECIAL TODAY!! Fire up your Merlin and set a course for 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram. Rendevous time 10am today.
We'll be screening the 1969 classic movie Battle of Britain - with an introduction by our Research Curator Simon Moody.
Simon will highlight the Kiwi connections in the movie and the battle, including the role played by Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park.
Sir Keith, played by actor Trevor Howard in the film, masterminded the defence of Southeast England during the Battle of Britain.
This FREE screening is part of our Curated Cinema series, put together to give visitors insights into classic movies.
When: 10am, Wednesday 16 July.
Where: Theatre (just to the right in the atrium), Air Force Museum of New Zealand, 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram, Christchu#freethingstodoinchristchurchhu#battleofbritaini#wigramskiesskies ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
INTERESTING USES FOR FORMER RNZAF BASES, VOLUME 1: We’re off to a flying start in our new limited series of interesting uses for former RNZAF bases, with The Base, the former home of the RNZAF in Te Rapa, Hamilton.
What is now a large, bustling shopping centre in North-west Hamilton, was once a large, bustling RNZAF stores depot which had its origins in World War Two.
Prior to the outbreak of the war, the RNZAF’s North Island stores depot was located at Hobsonville.
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan – which saw a massive expansion of the RNZAF to meet the war threat – identified that the stores infrastructure needed to be expanded and moved away from what was regarded as a vulnerable spot.
After Japan entered the war in December 1941 it was decided to move the Hobsonville stores completely to a new home at Te Rapa, Hamilton.
No. 1 Stores Deport was relocated to Te Rapa, a 29-hectare site next to the railway line to Auckland, and opened in April 1942. Its inland, central location, close to transport links made it a much better place to centralise all the RNZAF’s stores than Hobsonville and it became the main stores depot for the North Island. While there was no runway, RNZAF Station Rukuhia, a repair depot, was just down the road to the south.
The land had been acquired under the Crown Works Act, and after the RNZAF closed the base it was returned to Waikato iwi Tainui under as part of its land settlement.
Tainui Group Holdings, the iwi’s development arm, unveiled plans to build The Base, a $50 million shopping centre in 2004. It has since grown to include 160 retail stores and is now a retail colossus in Hamilton.
Its RNZAF history is acknowledged in its name and on site, and it continues to be, in spirit, a stores depot. Just bigger with more variety and less in the way of aircraft parts. And a food court instead of a mess. And less marching.
#rnzafbaseterapa #kiwiincomepropertytrust #thebase #Tainui ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
This was our home while we were based at Te Rapa.... Man I loved my time there..... Photo taken 1984 The memories I could write about, about my time here.
My late Father was CO there from 1959 to 1961then was transfered to Wellington HQ ,we lived in the 2 story house, great memories 😊
And more spending of feelings 🥴🤣
Tinui also have a set of carvings at the entrance one of witch is a Kahu taking flight which is was done to acknowledge the history of sight with the Air Force
There are other such air force bit dotted around Hamilton as there where munitions manufacturing facilities and other air force facilities dotted and located through your Hamilton
Our family followed my father out from Ireland in1956.corpral William Pressagh.lived at 20 pacific crescent.went to te rapa school. great teachers mrs harwood mr garvey.best years of my young life there before we built our own home in melville.🥰
My grandfather and father were both based there in the 40's and 50's with RNZAF. My family came from Cambridge. Ray and Jim Hooker.
Five years at the Fire Section at Te Rapa. Lived at 10 Pacific Crescent.
Thanks! I always wondered! I grew up in Hamilton late 80s through til late 90s, and then joined the RNZAF R2/06. I during my career learned of Te Rapa, and was so confused.... Te Rapa was just the Hamilton pools, what do you mean there was an Air Force base there? Lol.
Dad got posted to Te Rapa in 1971/2 until 1976. Then back to Whenuapai.
I've been led to believe my grandfather had something to do with designing the link the supply trains used to get off and on the main trunk line ,can't for the life of me think of what this would be described as but it was known as Cunninghams Link. My dad and his 4 siblings were all RNZAF,all 3 brothers made sergeant but not sure if the 2 sisters ever made rank or apart from dad, where they were based. Dad, Vernon, was at Shelly Bay until around 1959 and then Whenuapai for next 10 years . I know Uncle Noel was part of J Force , paymaster or similar maybe? No idea about Ian,Joan or Patricia .
Many memories of sports trips and other "social" occasions.
To be fair, there wasn't that much marching or drilll...........a lot of drinking however.
Very interesting piece of history. 👍
The museum’s Grumman Avenger also spent time there….
View more comments
HEY TEACHERS! Have we got an out-of-this-world experience for you!
The New Zealand Astrobiology Network is hosting a unique one-day conference for teachers here at our place, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, on Friday 26 September.
Get along and be inspired by NASA and Blue Marble Institute of Space speakers, who will tell you all about how astrobiology can inspire future-ready classrooms.
The day is dedicated to teachers and educators who are passionate about inspiring curiosity, scientific thinking and the big questions about space, where we came from, and of course, are we alone?
Teachers will gain:
• Insights into how astrobiology supports the NZ curriculum
• Practical ideas for integrating space science in the classroom
• Opportunities to connect with the national Spaceward Bound NZ programme
• Early access to the new travelling astrobiology exhibition
The day is FREE for teachers and has been organised to celebrate 10 years of astrobiology in Aotearoa New Zealand with the support of the US Embassy and us – the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
Tickets here: events.humanitix.com/10yearsofnzastrobiology/tickets
More info here: astrobiology.nz/event/from-aotearoa-to-the-origins-of-life-christchurch-teachers-astrobiology-day/ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Rebecca Horn we should do this