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
BAFFIN CRASH: Today we remember three RNZAF aviators were lost in an accident of the coast of Christchurch in 1940.
On 5 February Blackburn Baffin NZ152 took off from RNZAF Station Wigram at 1210 on a message dropping training flight.
The Baffin climbed to 700 feet but stalled coming out of a turn and spun into the sea just off the Waimakariri River Mouth, killing all three men.
They were Flight Lieutenant Arthur Darvall Poulton, 41, from Christchurch; Aircraftman First Class Douglas Haig Birbeck, 23, from Petone and Aircraftman First Class William James Reynold Strachan, 34, from Dunedin.
Arthur Poulton, pictured, was a Canterbury flying pioneer. He was graduate 124 from the Canterbury Aviation Company flying training school at Sockburn in 1918.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
RIP thank you for your service lest we forget
WE HAVE A WINNER: Take a bow and bask in the adoration of your many fans Harry Bone - you have won our latest Mystery Aircraft Competition.
Harry correctly said our mystery aircraft was a captured Messerschmitt Bf 109 which has been repainted in RAF colours.
You can tell it is a Bf 109 by its inverted engine, narrow undercarriage and that mean-looking cannon poking through its spinner.
The picture is one of the 50,000 gems in our digital archive, and it is from the Thomas George Strachan personal collection.
It is thought to be of Thomas sitting on the wing of the captured Luftwaffe in North Africa.
Merscherscmitt Bf 109s formed the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force during World War Two, with more than 34,000 rolling off the production line.
Congratulations Harry! Please email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz and we will wrap up your prize roundel mug, fire up the Bristol Freighter, and air drop it out to you#mysteryaircraftc#competitioni#freethingstodoinchristchurchh#bf109b#messerschmidthmidt ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
That's like me saying.. the winner of guess the car competition is ...then guess the car is a bmw . I expected the very minimum a type code letter 🤣
MUSEUM CLOSED UNTIL 12PM TODAY: We're continuing to clean up after being hit by severe roof leaks this week.
Luckily we've managed to protect all our precious treasures, but it is going to take some time to clean up and we're planning to reopen the museum at noon today (4 February).
We will update you if anything changes, and we apologise for any inconvenience! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I thought the museum's roof was all pretty new, with old roof replaced plus fairly new buildings. Disappointing for you all.