Join the Navy Band when they stop in at the National Army Museum in Waiouru to perform a FREE public concert.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the highly skilled and trained service personnel of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps who ensure the wellbeing and health of all personnel in the NZ Army.
Read moreWe want to wish a happy Regimental Day to the largest regiment in, and the life-blood of, the NZ Army, the Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment. Thank you for your service in keeping the NZ Army well-supplied and well-supported.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to one of the smaller yet highly skilled corps in the NZ Army, the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps, and to thank you for your enduring service.
Read moreCongratulations to Dolores, Lucy, and Faith, who today received their Civilian Recognition of Service Badge for their 80+ years of combined civilian service to the NZDF.
Read moreToday is Army Day, so we want to wish the New Zealand Army a happy 179th birthday and to say thank you for your service to all past and present soldiers.
Read moreWe want to wish all those in the RNZ Signals (past and present), that keep clear communication lines in our hyper-connected digital world, a happy Corps Day and to thank you for your service.
Read moreWe want to wish all those in the NZIC (past and present), that strive to penetrate the fog of war to find the truth, a happy Corps Day and to thank you for your service.
Read moreToday in History – 12 January 1943: Kiwis leading the way!
Read moreWe were privileged to have the senior Kapa Haka students from Raetihi School come to the Museum and perform their set from the 2023 Ruapehu Māori Culture Festival.
Read moreSnap a Picture for #NAMGetTanked and be in to win an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and a ride on a military vehicle for 2 people or a family!
Read moreMajor Major, the Regimental Mascot for 2NZEF, died 78 years ago today in Italy. Here’s a brief look at his exploits in World War II.
Read moreCongratulations to Nic, Liz, Windsor, and Alison, who today received their Civilian Recognition of Service Medal (15 years).
Read moreToday in History – 12 January 1943: Successful evacuation of troops from Gallipoli.
Read moreGift vouchers now available for our Mess Tent cafe and Quartermaster gift store.
Read moreToday in History – 12 January 1943: New Zealand at war with Japan.
Read moreToday a ceremony was conducted to mark the formal handover of the M548 Track Load Carrier “Bam Bam” on loan to Army Command School (ACS), Waiouru.
Read moreWe had the pleasure to meet these intrepid motorcyclists riding from Bluff to Cape Reinga on their small two-stroke BSA Bantams.
Read more“Through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond” – happy Cambrai Day to the service men and women of the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps!
Read moreHappy birthday to the men and women (past and present) of the Royal New Zealand Chaplains Department who bring hope and compassion to all who serve alongside them.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the service men and women (past and present) of the Royal New Zealand Dental Corps!
Read moreToday in History – 23 October 1915: HMT Marquette sunk by German submarine, killing 10 New Zealand nurses.
Read moreWe want to wish a happy Regimental Day to the men and women serving in the Infantry Regiment (past and present) and thank you for your service as the front-line soldier and backbone to the New Zealand Army.
Read moreWhat a treat! A gentleman named Eric stopped by the Museum for a visit today.
Read moreToday in History – 16 October 1914: Main Body of NZEF sails for war.
Read moreWrapping up our birthday weekend celebrations, we want to share with you this special artefact.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the service men and women of the Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps.
Read moreToday, we are 45! Thank you to all staff, past and present, for your hard work and dedication, and Happy Birthday!
Read moreTomorrow is our 45th birthday! Today, we want to share a little bit about our history and our progression from conceptual drawings to the museum we are now.
Read moreIt’s our birthday this weekend! To kick off our birthday celebrations, we are starting with where it all began: Operation Heritage.
Read moreToday in History – 12 October 1917: New Zealand’s ‘Blackest Day’ at Passchendaele.
Read moreBook of the Month: Shared Histores, by John Tāne Christeller accompanies an exhibition of the same name and is inspired by the John Tāne Christeller’s visits to sites connected to the New Zealand Wars.
Read moreWe had a special visitor to the Museum this morning! A young Henry John, named after his namesake-relative Henry John Laurent, VC.
Read moreBook of the Month: The Burned Letter, by Helene Ritchie. The Burned Letter, new to the bookshelf at The Quartermaster Store, is a recommended read, especially for those interested in our newest exhibition “Auschwitz. Now.”.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the service men and women of the Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps.
Read moreToday we had the privilege to host the late Lieutenant General (retired) Donald McIver’s family as they gifted his medals and memorabilia to the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.
Read moreOur newest exhibition “Auschwitz. Now.” has officially opened at the National Army Museum, with photographer Perry Trotter and historian Dr Sheree Trotter both at the Opening Ceremony.
Read moreToday in History – 27 July 1953: Armistice ends fighting in the Korean War.
Read moreToday in History – 26 July 1950: NZ Government decides to send a force, nicknamed Kayforce, to support the UN in the Korean War.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the service men and women sworn to keep safe and protect the NZ Army’s people and resources from crime, both in New Zealand and overseas; the Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police.
Read moreToday in History – 16 July 1965: Gunners of 161 Field Battery fire New Zealand’s first artillery shots of the Vietnam War from their base in Bien Hoa, near Saigon.
Read moreToday in History – 15 July 1942: 2nd New Zealand Division captures Ruwiesat Ridge after a successful night attack, only to be forced back at dusk.
Read moreToday in History – 1 July 1942: Lieutenant Colonel Vida Jowett is appointed Chief Commandant of the newly-formed NZ Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the service men and women of the New Zealand Army Legal Service, a very small and niche Corps of the New Zealand Army.
Read moreHappy birthday to the exceptional soldiers, past and present, of the New Zealand Special Air Service.
Read moreHappy Corps Day to all past and present of the New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps, and thank you for your dedication and service to your fellow soldiers.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy ‘Gunners’ Day’ to the highly skilled, technically minded, and adaptable Combat Specialists of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
Read moreToday in History – 7-9 May 1945: VE (Victory in Europe) Day. Here’s a brief look at what happened today 78 years ago.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to the highly skilled and trained service personnel of the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps who balance two professions in one – the profession of medicine and the profession of arms – to ensure the wellbeing and health of all personnel within the NZDF.
Read moreThis baton and armband were used by Brigadier Leonard Whitmore Thornton during the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Read moreFor Anzac Day 2023 we did something pretty special, partnering with Voices of Gallipoli to take part in a three-day international act of remembrance.
Read moreWe want to wish a happy Regimental Day to the largest regiment in, and the life-blood of, the NZ Army, the Royal New Zealand Army Logistics Regiment. Thank you for your service in keeping the NZ Army well-supplied and well-supported.
Read moreWe would like to wish a happy Corps Day to one of the smaller yet highly skilled corps in the NZ Army, the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps, and to thank you for your enduring service.
Read moreToday is Army Day, so we want to wish the New Zealand Army a happy birthday and to say thank you for your service to all past and present soldiers.
Read moreWe want to wish all those in the RNZ Signals (past and present), that keep clear communication lines in our hyper-connected digital world, a happy Corps Day and to thank you for your service.
Read moreAlthough we often get visitors with personal connections to items on display, it is not often we get as close a personal connection as SSGT Fraser Stewart has with this Roll of Honour.
Read moreWe want to wish all those in the NZIC (past and present), that strive to penetrate the fog of war to find the truth, a happy Corps Day and to thank you for your service.
Read more25 February 1943 is one of the darkest and most misunderstood days in New Zealand’s military history. On that day, at the Featherston Prisoner of War Camp, a tragic misunderstanding between two very different cultures resulted in the deaths of 48 Japanese prisoners of war and one New Zealand guard.
Read moreWant a Peek at the Peculiar? Here is one of the more unusual items in our collection, a petrified/dehydrated lemon that is over 100 years old!
Read moreToday, Major Paul Corke (left) is handing over the baton of Military Operations Manager to Major Tim Marsden (right).
Read moreHappy New Year from all of us here at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa!
Read moreMerry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Director and Staff at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa. Here is our 2022 Christmas Card to you, featuring two textile items from our collection.
Read moreKevin the puppet is a new addition to the Education Team at NAM and a big hit with our younger visitors.
Read moreIt was a pleasure to host teachers from our local Ruapehu College today, 21 November.
Read moreIt was lovely to meet today, in real life, two of the personnel featured in the Rainbow Warriors exhibit. We absolutely had to get a photo of them next to their portraits!
Read moreThe National Army Museum Te Mata Toa wants to wish all within the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps (past and present) a happy Corps Day; thank you for your service.
Read moreOur Armistice Day Service is tomorrow, 11 November, at 11am. All are welcome to attend!
Read moreSee the video of our new ‘Service and Sacrifice’ exhibit.
Read moreThroughout history in war and in peacetime, animals and mankind have worked alongside each other. The National Army Museum honours these animals each year on the 24th February known as “Purple Poppy Day”.
Read moreOn a quiet beach in Samoa in August 1914, New Zealand forces went ashore in that century’s first amphibious assault and began what is often referred to as the ‘quiet invasion’ however the story begins just over three weeks earlier. On the night of 6 August 1914, 48 hours after Britain’s entry into World War […]
Read moreThis year / Today marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, a global conflict which arose as a result of the instability in Europe following the First World War. World War II began with Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 and ended on 15th August 1945 on VJ Day (Victory […]
Read moreWho Dares Wins The Challenge Begins… ‘Special’ or ‘Elite’ Forces always conjure up an air of intrigue and mystery combined with an effective ruthlessness that usually results in ‘getting the job done’. The ‘elite’ element of the New Zealand Armed Forces, the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) were officially formed on 1 May 1955 […]
Read moreANZAC is the acronym for Australia New Zealand Army Corps created in December 1914 when the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were stationed together in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant-General William Birchwood. It likely began as a reference to the corps on a rubber stamp and later was taken on […]
Read moreNot all of our Anzac wartime heroes were men in khaki. The role women played in the Great War is the theme of the Museum’s latest exhibition which was recently opened in time for Christmas.
Read moreIt is now easier to search for relative’s medals in the Museum’s very popular Medal Repository thanks to the installation of a modern touch screen.
Read moreHeraldry Curator Elizabeth Mildon investigates the importance of the stories behind museum objects illustrating with her own family history.
Read moreA look into the Museum’s artillery collection and specifically the Italian L5 105mm Pack Howitzer.
Read moreLearn more about the 1953 Tangiwai Rail Disaster and the George Medal awarded to local man Cyril Ellis.
Read moreA Professor of War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, Gary Sheffield is in Waiouru researching for a new book which he plans to publish in 2020.
Read moreMai I Te Ki Te Ao Marama, the 28th Māori Battalion mere.
Read moreThe Battle of Romani was part of the larger Sinai Campaign, which aimed to secure the Suez Canal against the danger of Ottoman attack.
Read moreOn 2nd May 1945 the 2nd New Zealand Division captured Trieste and the Germans surrendered Italy.
Read moreThis an ensign was flown at Quinn’s Post, Gallipoli. It has been signed by members of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment.
Read moreBob Scott and Stan Young, two of only four remaining rugby players of the famous 1945-46 “Kiwis” Army Rugby Team opened the National Army Museum’s latest exhibition, “Khaki & Black – New Zealand’s Rugby Supremacy in Times of War” on Saturday.
Read moreThe royal colours awarded by King George to the Wellington Infantry Regiment in recognition of their contribution in World War One were recently donated to the National Army Museum for care and preservation.
Read moreAn exhibition exploring the impact of World War Two on fashion, including rationing, fashion as propoganda, military style influences and the changing role of women.
Read moreSusan Kaschula visits the National Army Museum to see the Universal Carrier her father donated. The carrier has a vickers gun mounted on its back and forms the centre piece next to the famous soldier eating baked beans in the museum’s North Africa WWII display.
Read morePaula Gray from Scotland, has a transcription of her great grandfather, Reginald Donald’s diaries, but seeing the real thing was worth travelling around the world for.
Read moreHungarian Jew, Clare Galambos-Winter survives the Holocaust and leaves devastated Europe to live with distant relatives in New Zealand. Her smock helps tells the story.
Read moreNew Zealand SAS Exhibition opening soon at the National Army Museum, Waiouru. The NZSAS has seen active service in Malaya, Borneo, South Vietnam, East Timor and Afghanistan, responding to situations where other Army units may not be able to act as effectively.
Read moreThe National Army Museum’s Memorial Wall holds the names of all armed services personnel who were killed while in active service. You can now place their picture on this memorial.
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Address:
Corner State Highway One
and Hassett Drive
Waiouru, New Zealand
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