Group Activities

WHAT TO DO

Bring your special interest or social club group to the Museum, and enjoy a unique experience from the options below (minimum group size of eight applies).

Bookings essential, contact:

Visitor Experience Team

Ph (03) 343 9504

Email programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS TOUR

Discover our historic aircraft and hear captivating and moving stories of the men and women of our Air Force as you are guided through the Museum galleries. This tour can be adapted to suit special interests if required.

Running time: 45 minutes

Location: Museum galleries

Cost: Free – koha (donations) are appreciated

Book Now: programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz

REELING BACK TIME

Take a journey back in time with our Air Force as you view historic newsreel films from our archives.

Running time: 45 minutes

Location: Theatre

Cost: Free – koha (donations) are appreciated

Book Now: programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz

BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS

Take your group on a fully-guided, private tour and discover the work that goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in our Collections areas, as well learning more about our historic buildings. This tour can be specially tailored to your group’s interests, and can include the Museum’s archives as well as the technical conservation workshops.

Running time: 60 minutes

Location: Reserve Collection area, conservation workshops, tarmac area and Museum archives (optional)

Cost: Free – koha (donations) are appreciated

Book Now: programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz

MUSEUM TALKS

Our Museum Talks cover a variety of subjects concerning the general history of military aviation in New Zealand and the events experienced by service personnel and civilians during both times of peace and times of war. These presentations make extensive use of stories and objects from our Museum archives and collections, and take an informal approach that stimulates discussion and engages the mind. Enjoy an informative, curator-led talk

New Zealand and the Pacific War

As the title suggests, this presentation covers the subject of New Zealand’s involvement in the Pacific during World War 2. Material includes the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s involvement in the operational theatre, training at home, the threat of Japanese invasion to New Zealand, and briefly touches on conditions on the home front, home defences, and the stationing of US forces in NZ.

The ANZAC Story     

This presentation reflects on the origins of the ANZAC story, including the earliest known operations that New Zealand and Australian forces served side by side on, as well as focusing on the Gallipoli campaign itself. This includes eyewitness accounts of the campaign, and the significance of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

Rationing

This presentation highlights the rationing effects on the New Zealand home front during World War 2. It covers subjects such as ration books, items that were rationed, substitutes to rationed items, and war time ration packs used by military personnel. A great showcase of how the average civilian, and those that were serving, coped with wartime rationing conditions.

Fashion at War

Discover the world of uniforms, clothing rationing conditions, and the effect on people’s daily fashion both in and out of uniform. Drawing on stories and collection items from the Air Force Museum, you can appreciate how our servicemen and women were dressed and the cunning methods that people invented to keep up appearances.

Defence and Deception- The Wigram Story.

This is the story of Wigram during its time as an Air Force establishment. From an Air Station to an RNZAF Base, Defence and Deception takes you on the journey from the pilot training school at Carr’s Farm in 1916, through the deception plans used during World War 2, and then on to the final departure of a military presence in the area and what is now the Air Force Museum of New Zealand of today.

Captured!

Hear thrilling stories of escape, evasion and capture, and view genuine escape aids from our collection in this World War 2 prisoner of war-themed presentation. Afterwards, take time to visit and explore our Captured! Exhibition space to get an idea of the conditions those prisoners faced.

Running time: Approximately 45 minutes

Location: Theatre

Cost: Free – koha (donations) are appreciated

Book Now: programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz

REFRESHMENTS OPTIONS

We can provide a variety of refreshment options for visiting groups. Our Café has seating for groups of up to 25, and we have other spaces suitable for larger groups.

For groups of up to 25 people, please contact the Café directly: 03 343 9545

For groups of 26 and over, please contact Venues Ōtautahi: 0800 822 7369, info@venuesotautahi.co.nz

ACCESSIBILITY

The Air Force Museum welcomes visitors of all abilities. We offer:

• accessible parking spaces on site for vehicles, mini-vans and buses
• accessible bathrooms
• free wheelchair and walking frame use during your visit

Please contact us to discuss how we can assist you further with your visit.