Collections
New to the Collection
Discover some of the newest additions to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand collection.
Read MoreOne Size Does Not Fit All: Perspectives On Collection Care
In this blog, our collections technicians explain the work that goes in to processing new collection items, from cataloguing to housing and storage.
Read MoreConflagration at ‘Cardboard Castle’: The Rongotai Exhibition building fire
75 years ago, the former RNZAF station Rongotai was the scene of one of Wellington’s largest fires. The uncannily glamorous facility that had started life as a tourist mecca, then morphed into a busy military station, ultimately became a hot spot of a much more unfortunate kind.
Read MoreMetadata: ‘The Writing on the Back of Digital Photos’
Many of us have old family photos stored away in albums or boxes at home. Most of us could probably identify our relatives in them, even when they were young children. But how often do we not know much, if anything, about the context behind these photos: where were they taken? When? By whom?
Read MoreOhakea Beer Fest
These potent examples of pottery were donated by a self-described ‘regular’ at the Ohakea baggies’ (junior ranks) bar – read more!
Read MorePiecing together the history of Vildebeest NZ102: Part two
Since our first blog on the history of Vickers Vildebeest NZ102, our Research Team has uncovered more of its secrets. This is an update on what we have found recently.
Read MoreMatariki: Let’s go fly a kite!
Matariki Māori New Year is a time to celebrate and come together with whānau, friends and communities, maumahara (remember) the people who came before us and share knowledge, traditions, and skills through wānanga (learning), while looking forward to the year ahead. Read this article to find out where kites come into play!
Read MoreRemembering the Fallen: War Graves Week, 2021
This week is War Graves Week, a celebration of the amazing work done by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in preserving the graves and memorials of service people around the world. The burial and commemoration of the dead of both world wars was a massive undertaking and their continued care by the Commission is a worldwide venture.
Read MoreMay the 4th be with you!
As fans across unite in celebration of Star Wars, who would’ve thought that we’d have a link to the film franchise in our own collection?
Read MoreCataloguing our Archives: Preparing for Research in the Future
From 1 May 2021, the Research Team will be suspending our free enquiry service until the end of the year. We think it is important to explain why we are taking this step and what we will be doing during this period.
Read MoreRemembrance Poppies
Somehow cheerful and solemn at the same time, the simple lapel poppy has a been a familiar feature of Anzac Day commemorations for generations of New Zealanders.
Read MoreParading for Victory: Air Force Contingent
75 years ago, the troopship “SS Maunganui” left Wellington to convey the New Zealand Victory contingent to the United Kingdom. Embarking on 20 April 1946, this journey took them all the way to London, where they joined a total of 1,600 personnel representing Commonwealth forces in the victory parade on 8 June 1946.
Read MoreAir Force Day ’81
The end of Summer in 1981 at RNZAF Base Ohakea was marked by a full-scale episode of PDA. Not a public display of affection (although who’s to say that didn’t happen?) but a public display of aircraft.
Read More‘A few of our favourite things’: celebrating 1 year of our photos online
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.
Read MoreNew Zealand’s first scheduled air mail service
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.
Read MoreRemembering Operation Desert Storm: the RNZAF and the Gulf War, 1991
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.
Read MoreThe story of ‘Crazy Kiwi’
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.
Read MoreAn Air Force Christmas
This small selection of Christmas stories, drawn from our archives, reflect the different experiences of men and women serving their country at Christmas time. Sometimes funny, occasionally sad, they all reflect how important this time of year is to service people and their families, both at home and abroad.
Read MorePiecing together the history of Vildebeest NZ102: Part one
The service history of our Vickers Vildebeest is punctuated by some remarkable stories, but uncovering them can be a research challenge. This is some of what has been found so far and how it was done.
Read More‘Through Adversity to the Stars’
In this guest blog, Otago University postgraduate student Stacey Fraser discusses her experience using the Air Force Museum of New Zealand archives for her research into the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
Read MoreCanberra WT346 heads to a new home
We’re really thrilled to share that our Trust Board has signed an agreement, loaning ex-RAF Canberra B(I)8 WT346 to NZ Warbirds Association Inc. at Ardmore for restoration to static display.
Read MoreThe ‘Battle of Britain’ comes to New Zealand
In 1969, the blockbuster film “Battle of Britain” was released in New Zealand, generating one of the largest paper objects in the Air Force Museum collection.
Read MoreThe Battle of Britain Lace Panel
Discover the story of one of the Museum’s most special artefacts – the Battle of Britain commemorative lace panel.
Read MoreAvro 626 NZ203: fast facts on a unique aircraft
The Avro 626 on display at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand is a very unique aircraft with an interesting story: it is the only fully-intact surviving aircraft operated by the RNZAF before World War Two.
Read MoreResearching your family history online
Whakapapa connections – who we are, and where we come from – are how we relate to our families and our own place in the world. Whether you’re researching a military or civilian ancestor, this blog will help begin your journey into exploring your family history – a journey you can start online.
Read MoreLet’s Talk Research: The Heavy and Continuous Sacrifice Conference
Over 13-15 February 2020, a major international conference on World War Two was held at Massey University campus in Wellington. Entitled ‘Heavy and Continuous Sacrifice’, it focused on New Zealand and international aspects of the conflict.
Read MoreHandle with care
Every day, objects in our collection present our team with unique challenges to overcome if we are to look after them in the best possible way. Find out more about individual storage solutions.
Read MoreWithin the Glass Case: The Red Baron
So, who was this Baron von Richthofen and who was A.V. Barrow? Why and how did Barrow collect these souvenirs and what is their significance?
Read MoreAir Force Museum Photo Archives go online
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.
Read MoreThe ‘Bougainville Typewriter’ – Bill Williamson’s trusted companion
To run a successful military unit requires a lot of administration. Learn more about the Underwood typewriter was used during World War Two.
Read MoreMessenger Pigeons of World War Two
Homing pigeons were widely used as messenger carriers by the armed and civil services during World War Two.
Read MoreConservation of photo negatives
Our Keeper of Photographs, Matthew O’Sullivan takes us through an example of conserving a photo negative from the collection.
Read MoreWhat’s in the background?
What’s in the background? Find out more about this photo from our Keeper of Photographs.
Read MoreRon Hermanns’ trench art collection
Discover Ron Hermanns collection of exquisitely-crafted ‘trench art’, produced during two tours of operation to the Pacific islands during World War Two.
Read MoreA Bridge Too Far? Remembering New Zealand airmen and the battle for Arnhem 75 years on
Discover more about one of the most daring and ambitious military operations in history, Codenamed Operation Market-Garden which took place in Holland.
Read MoreThe Guinea Pig Club: New Zealand connections
Learn about the Guinea Pig Club and the innovative care administered to its members by New Zealand plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe.
Read MoreFearless birds and wild winds: The meaning behind RNZAF badges and mottoes
Delve into the world of heraldry and discover the meanings behind some of our Air Force’s badges (crests) and their Te Reo mottoes. Read more in our latest blog!
Read MoreSunderland NZ4111 and the Chatham Islands incident
In 1959 an RNZAF Sunderland was damaged and eventually abandoned on the remote Chatham Islands east of New Zealand. In this blog, we explore the story of that incident, using recently-digitised historic photographs from our archives.
Read MoreArchives: past, present and future
Celebrating International Archives Day, our Research team explore the past, present and future of the Museum’s archive in this blog.
Read MoreOperation ‘Titanic’ – Dummy paratroopers in World War Two
Operation ‘Titanic’ was the codename for the dummy paratrooper drops and was part of the broader deception initiatives given the codename Operation ‘Bodyguard’.
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