Discover New Zealand's military aviation history at the place where it all began

Aircraft

Explore our aircraft and learn about New Zealand’s aviation history.

Exhibitions

Discover a variety of engaging special exhibitions at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Roll of Honour

A memorial and record of all New Zealanders who have died while in service with the RNZAF or other air forces since 1915.

Visit

Find out everything you need to know to plan your visit to the Air Force Museum.

What's on at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Behind the Scenes Tour

Take our special half-hour guided tour to learn more about the Museum’s work ‘behind the scenes’ and discover the aircraft, vehicles and engines in our reserve collection.

Museum Hunts

With regularly changing themes and challenges, our hunts are a fun way for families to explore the Museum together.

Revamp Vintage Market Takes Flight

‘Revamp Vintage Market Takes Flight’ at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand! Come along and explore the biggest market yet with an incredible selection of stalls from Christchurch’s best vintage stores and local artisans. Free entry!

Wāhine Toa: Women in Defence

Welcome to Wāhine Toa: Women in Defence, an online exhibition exploring the journeys of women serving in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) since gender integration.

Engage with our collection

Collections & Research

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand holds the national collection of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

How to Donate an Item

Find out how to donate items to the Air Force Museum collection.

Make a research enquiry

How to contact our Research Team.

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.

Blog

Air Force Museum Photo Archives go online

By Matthew O'Sullivan | 19/02/2020

We are really thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, researchers will be able to browse digitised parts of our photograph collection, online.

The ‘Bougainville Typewriter’ – Bill Williamson’s trusted companion

By Jason Sim | 23/01/2020

To run a successful military unit requires a lot of administration. Learn more about the Underwood typewriter was used during World War Two.

Unknown civilian man holding a pigeon. England.
Original caption reads: "British Official Photograph CH5011. How 'Winkie' an RAF Pigeon Helped Save the Crew of a Derelict 'Beaufort'
The crew of four of a 'Beaufort' aircraft of Coastal Command, RAF, forced down into the North Sea owe their rescue partly to a pigeon known as 'Winkie' one of two pigeons carried. When the aircraft was forced down the Wireless operator got out the tin pigeon container. 'Winkie' had broken out; the other, sent off with a message attached, failed to report. The base aerodrome picked up a weak call sign giving a vague indication of the position of the crew in their dinghy - the aircraft having sunk very quickly - but the arrival at her loft of 'Winkie', wet and oil clogged after a 100 mile flight in bad weather, enabled calculations to be made which narrowed considerably the area of search. The crew were eventually located and taken aboard by an RAF high speed launch. The RAF pigeon 'Winkie', which flew a hundred miles in bad weather back to its loft, this materially aiding the rescue of the 'Beaufort' crew. See Air Ministry Bulletin 6428."

Messenger Pigeons of World War Two

By Murray McGuigan | 19/12/2019

Homing pigeons were widely used as messenger carriers by the armed and civil services during World War Two.

Wāhine Toa: Women in Defence: collaborating and curating online

By Air Force Museum | 29/11/2019

The first collaborative, online exhibition of its kind by New Zealand’s national service museums explores the journeys of women serving in New Zealand’s military since gender integration.