13 Feb 2026
Check out a roundup of the latest heritage news and discover new resources and featured content.
Featured Heritage Technology Museum
The Kauri Museum, Matakohe
“Deep in the heart of an ancient forest that’s gone, the Kauri Museum celebrates one of the world’s greatest trees and honours our relationship with it. We share stories of courage and determination, tragedy and triumph, boundless hope and unfathomable loss; kauri making a nation.
Since 1962 the Kauri Museum has been gathering, displaying and sharing with visitors an internationally significant collection of:
- Humble tools made important in times of mud, grit, smoke and fire.
- Handcrafted objects of rare and exquisite beauty.
- Dazzling displays of precious kauri gum, the hardened resin of kauri trees.”
Photo by Wikimedia
There are lots more Technology Museums to see. Check out a Google Map Here.
Heritage in the News
New Zealand's first power station roaring once again after 80 years
“New Zealand’s first hydro-electric power station has been restored and is once again pumping electricity into the national grid, and money into the Reefton community.”
Reefton Power Station is one of our Heritage Record sites too.
Queenstown's Skippers Bridge could be abandoned amid safety concerns
“Popular Queenstown tourist attraction Skippers Bridge could be abandoned, according to an engineer's report the council released recently.”
The Skippers Canyon Suspension Bridge is on our Engineering Heritage Register, a fact highlighted in several media items.
Our Otago Heritage Chapter had been in contact with the Council over our interest.
Photo by Katelyn G
Locomotive Restoration
“A group of Southland train enthusiasts are on a mission to restore a 19th century locomotive known as the lifeblood of the New Zealand railways.”
Decades-long effort to rebuild WW2 Mosquito that saw action over Germany
“For 26 years, Dag Guest has poured time, skill and determination into restoring one of the rarest warbirds in existence – a World War 2 de Havilland Mosquito 98.”
Honours for Engineering Heritage Chapter member
Murray King was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year Honours, for services to transport, logistics and railway heritage. Dr Murray King has worked in the rail and logistics industries and helped to preserve New Zealand’s rail heritage.
Heritage Stolen
“Thieves strip heritage trains in 'extensive' burglary at Auckland railway. The theft stripped heritage trains of irreplaceable parts, with replacements only possible by painstakingly recasting, remoulding or engineering.”
Heritage Bridge Remains Lost
Cable from historic Ōpiki Bridge fell into Manawatū River. The deck of the bridge was removed in the past. The bridge had a Category 1 rating from Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand.
Taieri Gorge Rail
“Dunedin Railways has launched a reimagined stop at Deep Stream on its Taieri Gorge journey – featuring a guided walk along its historic viaduct, and an extraordinary photo opportunity of the train crossing the structure.”
Ingolfson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pioneering Dairy Device
“A 1930s Kiwi steam invention made our butter better” Read more
Vacreator Cream Pasteurising is also one of our Heritage Record items.
Old Choral Hall sings again
“The reopening of Old Choral Hall signals a new chapter in the history of a landmark for the University – and for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.”
A building archaeology and restoration story. Read more
144-year-old heritage wall moved and reconstructed for City Rail Link
“The restoration and repositioning of one of the oldest pieces of infrastructure in downtown Auckland has been completed after a painstakingly precise process that took five years.”
Anniversaries
Hikitia Floating Crane
This year, 2026, is the hundredth anniversary of Wellington’s Hikitia Floating Crane
Featured Heritage Record
Musick Memorial Radio Station
Musick Memorial Radio Station in Howick, Auckland, was constructed between 1939 and 1942. The station is a tribute to Pan American Airlines pilot, Captain Edwin Musick (1894–1938). He died pioneering long-distance air travel, which promised to reduce the effects of New Zealand’s geographical isolation.
During the 1930s, Pan American Airlines and Britain’s Imperial Airways made a number of survey flights to Auckland to investigate potential trans-Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea routes. Telecommunication support was essential for setting up viable commercial services. A site, formerly called East Tamaki Head, was selected for a radio station. The headland and station were named in Musick’s honour after he and his crew died during the first commercial flight from New Zealand to the United States of America in January 1938.
Route52, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This update was written by Garry Law, Chair of the Engineering Heritage Board. The Board provides support and strategic direction to Engineering New Zealand’s heritage work programme.
There are plenty of ways to get involved with Engineering New Zealand’s Engineering Heritage Programme, learn more.
Have something for the next update? Email heritage@engineeringnz.org
