Torpedo Bay Navy Museum

21/10/2026

🐻🐻🐻

It has been a beary long wait for these guys!!

Our Sailor Bear, Torpedo Ted is back in stock online and instore now!!!

30/09/2026

Hari huritau ki a Te Tauā Moana o Aotearoa! October 1 1941, marks the official date the Royal New Zealand Navy was granted its royal title by King George VI, marking 85 years ago today. Today we take a look back to the moment the Governor General of New Zealand from 1941 – 1946, Baron Cyril Newall, signed the Navy Order.

27/09/2026

🎶 SALE SALE SALE 🎶

Our wonderful range of soft, huggable plush toys which feature a built in sound module which plays authentic animal calls are on SALE for these school holidays!

🎶Emperor Penguin
🎶Dolphin
🎶Red Billed Gull
🎶Kiwi Bird
🎶Sea Lion
🎶Little Blue Penguin

Available instore and online NOW!

The Navy Museum Store has a diverse range of naval themed gifts for all ages and to suit a range of budgets.

24/09/2026

This September/October school holiday, the Antarctic Heritage Trust and the Navy Museum invite you to explore Sir Edmund Hillary’s Antarctic hut through a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) experience! Step inside Hillary’s hut and find out what life was like for Sir Ed’s team living in the world’s most extreme environment whilst furthering science and exploration. This digital experience will transport you to Antarctica without getting cold!

The VR experience takes approximately 15 minutes. It is suitable for everyone aged 9 years old and over. We’ll have other fun activities available for the under-9s.

The VR experience will be live at the museum from Monday 28th September to Friday 2nd October from 10am – 2.30pm. Spaces are limited; book now to avoid disappointment. To book your session, please email [email protected]

22/09/2026

Here's an awesome image from the - HMNZS Endeavour 1 crew at Scott Base, 1961. Image: ABC 0016

20/09/2026

🐧Join us for some FUN these School Holidays with our FREE Holiday Activities! 🐧

🐧Ages 3+
🐧Open 7 days
🐧10 - 5

18/09/2026

E whakanui ana mātou i Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - We're celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - the theme for the week is Ake Ake Ake - A Forever Language - Te Reo Towns, celebrating the communities that keep Te Reo Māori alive. We're unpacking the Museum's Te Reo name: Te Waka Huia o Te Taua Moana O Aotearoa. Te Waka Huia means Treasure Box, and Te Taua Moana O Aotearoa is the New Zealand Navy.

16/09/2026

E whakanui ana mātou i Te Wiki o te Reo Māori mā te aro ki ngā kōrero hītori o te Te Taua Moana e whakatauira ana i ngā uara o Te Taua Moana.

We’re celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori by focusing on stories from Navy history that exemplify the Navy’s values. Today we're focusing on the Navy's value: Tū Kaha - Courage. Steve has selected the story of Lieutenant Commander Archibald Richardson RNZNVR

Soon after the outbreak of WW2, Richardson left Gisborne to volunteer for the RNZAF and was put on the waiting list. In 1940 he opted to join the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. In July 1942, he joined 891 Squadron and was posted to es**rt carrier HMS Dasher. He flew a Sea Hurricane in Operation ‘Torch’, the American landings on Vichy Algeria.

In June 1944, he was on fleet aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable, one of three carriers and support ships that participated in Operation ‘Mascot’. Eighty-nine aircraft attacked the German battleship Admiral Von Tirpitz, which had been discovered hiding in a Norwegian fiord.

On 24 August, LT CDR Richardson led a strike force of 78 aircraft to attack the Tirpitz. Without any regard to his own safety, he led three low-level attacks through intense anti-aircraft fire, but on his last dive he was hit and crashed into the ship. He received a posthumous Mention in Despatches and is commemorated on the RNZN Memorial, Devonport, Auckland.

Another New Zealander, Sub Lt. Clive Woodward RNZNVR, was also killed on the same raid and is buried at Tromso Cemetery, Norway.
Image: L-R LT CDR (A) Richardson, SLT Fraser, Lt Gilbert, SLT Leighton FAA 2014.32

14/09/2026

E whakanui ana mātou i Te Wiki o te Reo Māori mā te aro ki ngā kōrero hītori o te Te Taua Moana e whakatauira ana i ngā uara o Te Taua Moana. Ka tīmata ki a Tū Tira.

We’re celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori by focusing on stories from our Navy's history that exemplify the Navy’s values. Starting with Tū Tira.

We're celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori language week) 14-20th September. The theme is Ake Ake Ake A Forever language - Te Reo Towns – a celebration of communities who have kept Te Reo Māori alive. Here at the museum, we've decided to focus on the Navy's values and stories in the museum or in the collection that exemplify the values. We're kicking off with Tū Tira – Commitment.

Following the death of her son aboard HMS Irresistible in 1915, Emily ‘Ma’ Burrows dedicated years of support to the sailors of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Every Sunday, she delivered treats including fresh fruit and baking and did small jobs such as mending socks and delivering letters. Ma Burrows became a well-known figure in the Navy and for her years of commitment was recognised with full military honours at her funeral in 1933. Both Ma Burrows and her son William’s medals can be viewed in the Medals Collection at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum.
Image: Here is Emily 'Ma' Burrows with sailors from HMS Philomel EZB 0016