What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm Saturday 9am - 4:30pm Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

National Army Museum, Waiouru New Zealand

Name: National Army Museum, Waiouru New Zealand
Address: Cnr SH1 and Hassett Drive, Waiouru, 4861, NZ
Telephone: +6463876911
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

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National Army Museum, Waiouru New Zealand

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Military history and army war museum in Waiouru, New Zealand, providing access to a unique collection
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12/10/2026

TODAY IN HISTORY - 12 OCTOBER 1917

One of the darkest days in New Zealand’s military history.

On 12 October 1917, New Zealand forces launched an attack at Passchendaele in Belgium. What followed was a devastating loss of life.

💔 More than 840 New Zealanders were killed within hours, with around 3,700 casualties throughout the day. It remains the highest number of New Zealand casualties suffered in a single day while serving overseas.

The battlefield had been transformed by relentless rain into a treacherous sea of mud. Men struggled to advance, supplies and equipment could not reach the front, and even evacuating the wounded became almost impossible.

In the aftermath, it took three days for stretcher-bearers to clear New Zealand casualties from the battlefield.

For those who survived, the loss of so many comrades left a lasting impact. Back home, communities and families were devastated by the news - with some families losing more than one loved one.

🕯️ 12 October 1917 remains a day of profound loss in New Zealand’s military history.

📸 Passchendaele, Collection of National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, 1999-929.

08/10/2026

🎒 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS?

Make a stop at the National Army Museum! 🪖

Head into Kids HQ for hands-on, interactive fun where kids can explore, discover and learn about New Zealand’s military history. 🔍🎖️

From dressing up in uniform, driving a unimog truck or exploring the various military fortifications, there’s plenty to keep curious minds busy!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for the whole family. History they’ll remember.

📍 National Army Museum, Waiouru
🎟️ Included with Museum admission

Come and discover your history these school holidays!

🔗 https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/visit/

04/10/2026

TODAY IN HISTORY - 4 October 1917

A victory before the mud of Passchendaele

On 4 October 1917, New Zealand troops fought in the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the wider Allied offensive known as the Third Battle of Ypres.

The New Zealand Division was tasked with capturing Gravenstafel Ridge, supporting an Australian assault on Broodseinde.

Despite increasingly treacherous, muddy conditions, the New Zealanders achieved their objective — advancing the Allied front line around 1,000 metres and capturing approximately 1,100 German prisoners.

But victory came at a heavy cost.

Around 1,600 New Zealanders became casualties, including approximately 500 killed.

The success at Broodseinde led British commanders to believe that German resistance was weakening. The decision was made to continue the offensive on 12 October.

By then, however, relentless rain had transformed the battlefield into a sea of mud.

The result would be one of the darkest days in New Zealand's military history - the Battle of Passchendaele.

📅 4 October 1917 — Broodseinde
📅 12 October 1917 — Passchendaele

One battlefield. Eight days. Two very different outcomes.

📸 Ypres Cathedral in ruins, 4/10/1917, Collection of the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, H306.
🔗 https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/stories/a-victory-before-the-mud-of-passchendaele/

01/10/2026

🚗 Don’t just drive past - stop and discover!

Travelling SH1 and the Desert Road? Pull in at the National Army Museum for history, heroes and stories worth stopping for. 🎖️

Then refuel with a well-deserved resupply at The Mess Tent café. ☕🥪

Your road trip just got more interesting.

🔗https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/

29/09/2026

📦 WHAT HAPPENS TO AN OBJECT AFTER IT’S DONATED?

You’ve donated an object to the National Army Museum… but what happens next?

In Part 2 of our collection series, go behind the scenes with our Collection & Exhibitions Manager, Caitlin Timmer-Arends, to discover the journey an object takes once it enters the Museum’s collection.

From assessment and documentation to cataloguing, photography, storage and future display, every object has a story to tell - and there’s a lot of work that happens behind the scenes to make sure that story is preserved for future generations. 🎖️

🔎 Watch to discover what happens behind the scenes and how we care for the objects entrusted to us.

🔗 https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/support-us/leave-a-legacy/

25/09/2026

🎖️ SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN! 🎨

Looking for something fun for the kids? Come and get hands-on at the National Army Museum!

🕚 11am–12pm & 1pm–2pm weekdays during the holidays

✨ New activities every day, including:
📚 Storytime with puppets
🎩 Handle Army headwear
🍽️ Explore soldiers’ rations
🪖 Make an origami tank
🔎 Discover fascinating Army objects

Different activity. New adventure. Every day!

🔗https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/visit/

22/09/2026

🎖️ WHAT DOES THE MUSEUM COLLECT?

Ever wondered what makes an object worthy of a place in the National Army Museum’s collection?

Go behind the scenes with our Collection & Exhibitions Manager, Caitlin Timmer-Arends, in Part 1 of our Collection series.

Our Collection helps us understand the New Zealand experience of war, remember the sacrifice and cost to our nation, and tell the story of what it means to be a New Zealander.

But we can’t collect everything! Our Collection Policy helps guide decisions about what we accept, considering an item's relevance, what we already hold, available storage space and staff resources.

👀 Watch to find out more about what we collect and why.

Want to know more about donating an item to the Museum?

🔗 https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/support-us/leave-a-legacy/

20/09/2026

TODAY IN HISTORY 20 September 1999

New Zealand’s first troops deploy to East Timor as violence erupts following a historic vote for independence.

As part of the Australian-led INTERFET, New Zealand sent troops, aircraft, helicopters and naval vessels to help restore peace and provide humanitarian assistance.

By October, more than 1,100 New Zealanders were serving in East Timor - our largest military deployment since the Korean War.

The mission came at a heavy cost. Five New Zealand servicemen lost their lives, including Private Leonard Manning, killed during an encounter with an armed group in July 2000.

Today, we remember their service and sacrifice, and New Zealand’s role in supporting East Timor’s journey towards independence.

🌺Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou 🌺

📸 From the Collection, National Army Museum Te Mata Toa
🔗https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/stories/new-zealands-largest-military-deployment-since-korea/

18/09/2026

🎓 Learning history. Discovering connections.

Over the past week, Year 10 students from Palmerston North Boys' High School ’ visited the National Army Museum to explore the significance of New Zealand’s military history and its connections to their own lives.

From discovering the stories of Old Boys and their ancestors who served, to learning about the 28th Māori Battalion and exploring original WWII Prisoner of War letters and diaries from the Archives, students gained a fascinating insight into the experiences of those who served.

Because history is more than dates and events – it’s about the people, their stories, and the connections that bring the past to life.

Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou. 🌺

🔗 https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/schools/

15/09/2026

👑 A crown that sits below the flames… but why?

This corps badge is the only one in the NZ Army where the crown doesn’t sit at the very top. And no, it’s not a mistake!

Can you guess the reason? Find out below! 👇

Today, we wish a very happy Corps Day to the men and women, past and present, of the Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps (RNZAEC).

From the establishment of the first Army school in 1850, the Corps has played a vital role in raising the standard of education and learning within the New Zealand Army.

Despite a long history of reorganisations and challenges, the RNZAEC has continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to educating and supporting our soldiers. Formally re-established in 1954 and granted its Royal title in 1963, the Corps continues this proud tradition today.

🔥 Now, back to that crown!

The RNZAEC badge is based on one designed by King George VI for the British Army’s Education Corps. It is the only British Army corps badge designed by a reigning monarch.

The five flames of the fluted flambeau represent learning, and King George VI believed that the pursuit of knowledge should sit above the monarchy itself. That’s why the crown was deliberately placed beneath the flames!

A fascinating fact to tuck away for your next quiz!

📸The badge pictured predates 1963, when the Corps was granted its Royal title.

Address

Cnr SH1 And Hassett Drive
Waiouru
4861

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+6463876911

Website

http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/

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