4 Jun 2026
Check out a roundup of the latest heritage news and discover new resources and featured content.
Featured Heritage Technology Museum
Butler Point Whaling Museum, Northland
Jean Bungartz – Walfang nach neuster Fangmethode (1885) – Whaling. Image: Wikimedia Commons
“Step back in time and experience the rich heritage of Butler Point, one of Northland’s most captivating and unique attractions. Located in the stunning Doubtless Bay area, this historic property is home to the renowned Butler Point Whaling Museum – one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most extensive private collections of whaling artefacts.
Explore the beautifully preserved 1840s homestead, the residence of Captain William Butler and family, and imagine life as it was for early settlers in the Far North.”
Heritage in the News
Hump Ridge Track Bridges Closed
Three of the four historic viaducts on the Hump Ridge Track near Port Craig are closed because of their deteriorated condition. However, the track remains open. The viaducts have an Engineering New Zealand Heritage record.
Read more
Dunedin Gasworks Museum
Cracking in the distinctive chimney has prompted urgent work to deconstruct the top. Now a new cap is being installed.
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Bridge to Nowhere
It’s receiving a facelift. “At nearly 90 years old, heritage icon the Bridge to Nowhere owes its enduring stature to a regular beauty regime, with a recent 'facelift' the latest treatment."
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Auckland Clock Towers
An engineer who maintains the clocks in Auckland’s public buildings.
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Twizel heritage machinery display
A new exhibit is added to the outdoor plant exhibit – a Cat 769 dump truck ex Baker construction. More are in prospect.
Read more…and more
Local reps win an international robotics comp
And it had a heritage element.
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Trial over failure to repair heritage building
“The trial of the owner of one of Auckland's oldest buildings has begun, five and a half years after an engineer first inspected cracks in its façade…Built around 1855, the building is considered the city's oldest brick building.”
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New rail heritage book
North Otago Branch Line Railways. “Author Arthur De Maine covers in detail the features and operation of each line. Branches covered are: Kurow, Waitaki dam extension, Ngapara, Tokarahi, Dunback and Makareao, the formative Port Moeraki branch and the little-known Shag Point branch and Allendale Coal Company line.”
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Water tower saved
Cambridge’s distinctive water tower is to be restored by its owner the Waipa Council. Its future had been in doubt.
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Meridian reflects on its Waitaki heritage
“The Waitaki Hydro Scheme first started pumping out power almost a century ago, and it's been the backbone of our electricity generation ever since.”
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From hydro projects to heritage icons: the story of Win Clark
“Win Clark is a long standing supporter of Futuna Chapel and has generously donated hours of his time and expertise to the Trust as one of New Zealand’s top heritage structural engineers. Although now retired, Win recently contributed significantly to the restoration of the Chapel roof alongside architect Dr Peter Parkes”
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New Heritage Records
Jubilee floating dock, Wellington
During its existence, between 1931-1988, the floating dock just off Aotea Quay was a prominent feature of Wellington Harbour, readily seen from the road or rail line at the Kaiwharawhara entrance to downtown Wellington.
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Parnell Rise Railway Bridge and Viaduct
Basalt piers astride Parnell Rise in central Auckland, constructed in 1865-1866, tell the story of the city’s first and much beleaguered rail project.
If you are a fan of Papers Past then have a look at a damming report on the initial engineering of the project.
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Parnell Rise Railway Bridge and Viaduct, 1896. Visible on the hill behind, are St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (left) and Auckland High court (right). Image: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18961114-0033-01.
Events
Australian Engineering Heritage Conference
Taking a holistic approach to engineering heritage – past, present and future.
11–12 November 2026
Swinburne University, Melbourne
Find out more
Heritage Anniversary
Kawerau Falls Dam
A dam that looks like a bridge but is more than a bridge. It was designed as a control gate on the Kawerau River exiting Lake Wakatipu. It passes its 100th anniversary this year. Unlike other lake exit control gates in New Zealand this was not built for hydroelectric storage, rather in a commercial attempt to lower the level of the river to seek gold from its bed. It was privately commissioned. Its commercial purpose failed when the river dropped much less than expected. The builders were required to provide a bridge as part of the works and that is how it functioned until quite recently.
Read more
Kawarau River [May 1957], Ref; WA-28320-F, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
Featured Heritage Record
Kaimai Tunnel
Opened in 1978, the Kaimai tunnel provides an important rail link between the Waikato and the Port of Tauranga.
The operation of the Kinleith paper mill in the early 1950s greatly increased rail traffic in the Bay of Plenty. To reach the port at Mt Maunganui, timber and paper products from the mill travelled by rail north to Paeroa via Matamata before rounding the top of the Kaimai range where they could then head south via Waihī to Tauranga.
A tunnel through the Kaimai range would shave over 85km off the journey.
Read more
The tunnel had a problematic construction but went on to be a transport boon.
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
Have something for the next update? Email heritage@engineeringnz.org
