School Holiday Programme

Embark on your next adventure during the school holidays!

Van Gogh Alive

From 19 February 2021

Van Gogh Alive is a multi-sensory experience to entertain the whole family, a unique opportunity to fully experience Van Gogh’s artistry, and truly immerse yourself in his world.

Contact Cafe

The perfect space to take a break during your Museum visit. Open Monday to Sunday 9:30am – 3:30pm.

Shop

Browse our fantastic range of aviation-themed gifts and products in the one-stop-shop for aircraft enthusiasts of all ages! Every purchase directly supports the work we do to preserve and share New Zealand’s military history.

Explore our collection

Still life featuring a negative, light meter, gloves and a magnifier. Air Force museum of New Zealand.

Photographs

Browse digitised parts of our photograph collection online.

Exhibitions

Captured!

Follow the journey of a prisoner of war in Europe during World War Two in this interactive exhibition which will engage visitors of all ages.

Victory!

On 15 August 1945, the most destructive conflict in human history finally ended, with Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). This photographic exhibition, featuring images drawn from our archives, is a record of that momentous time, when the nation celebrated and our Air Force began the gradual transition from war to peace.

Read our Blog

Aerial oblique view of Corsair NZ5320, from No. 3 Servicing Unit, after crash landing in Piako Swamp, 27 October 1944. Image ref HIST489, RNZAF Official.

‘A few of our favourite things’: celebrating 1 year of our photos online

By Air Force Museum | 19/02/2021

Since launching in February 2020, our online photo collection has been accessed by thousands of people across the world. These are a few of our team’s favourite photos from the online collection.

An Avro 504K of the Canterbury Aviation Company, similar to the one which made the first mail run in 1921. Image ref WgG2566-78_1, Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

New Zealand’s first scheduled air mail service

By Simon Moody | 29/01/2021

On 31 January 1921, a small Avro 504 biplane of the Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company took off from Sockburn Aerodrome, carrying the first scheduled airmail service to commence in New Zealand.

Sergeant Phil Lane, wearing a gas mask, on security duty on the tarmac in front of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb-Mar 1991. Image ref PD14-2-91, RNZAF Official.

Remembering Operation Desert Storm: the RNZAF and the Gulf War, 1991

By Simon Moody | 18/01/2021

30 years ago, operations against Iraq ended with the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm. During this brief but decisive conflict, RNZAF personnel were deployed in support of the wider Coalition against Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Hussein, and his forces.

No. 3 Squadron RNZAF 'Helimeet 90' team mascot, 'Crazy Kiwi', now in the collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

The story of ‘Crazy Kiwi’

By Jason Sim | 06/01/2021

Thanks to the power of social media, we’ve been able to uncover the story behind this little Kiwi, who came into our collection wearing a Royal Air Force uniform.