6 Oct 2026
Catch up on the latest heritage news and explore new resources, insights and featured content.
Featured Heritage Technology Museum
Magazine Bay, Lyttelton
Housed in the category 1 powder magazine building (1874) at Magazine Bay, Lyttelton, this museum primarily exhibits the remains of Thornycroft torpedo boat number 168.
Located in the Old Powder Magazine Building with restored sections of the 1885 boat, a similar engine, model and an informative, historical documentary, this museum is open Sundays 1-3pm.
New Heritage Record
Kauri root bridges, State Highway 12 Waipoua Forest
State Highway 12 traverses the Waipoua Forest. Specially designed raised sections of the highway carry traffic just above the ground, protecting the sensitive kauri tree roots below. These kauri root bridges were completed in 1996.
Kauri root bridge between the Darby and Joan Kauri. Photo: Ted Malan, 2025
New Biography
Read a biography of Mary Earle née Cameron (1929-2021), chemical engineer and pioneering food technologist.
Heritage in the News
- Kopu Bridge, Thames Historic Kopu bride has now reopened as a walkway. Come celebrate the driving of the first pile 100 years ago back in 1926!
- New suspension bridge on the Tongariro River Trail Work on the new bridge is progressing well.Watch a video
- Waikaremoana power station gets upgrade “A 38-tonne generator stator has arrived at Genesis' Kaitawa Power Station, marking a milestone in the final stage of a $95 million refurbishment of the Waikaremoana Power Scheme.”
- Opening of City Rail Link, Auckland City Rail Link officially opened on 13 September 2026
- Edith Cavell Bridge “Recent earthquakes have put fresh attention on one of Queenstown’s oldest pieces of transport infrastructure.”
- Historic Mataura Railway Station set for major restoration
- Historic locomotive finds new home at Huia Settlers Museum
- PS Waimarie historic Whanganui Paddle Steamer begins major five-month overhaul
- Thames Historic pump quadrants restoration under way
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Events
It’s heritage festival season. Check out the fantastic programme of events around the country. Many events also have an engineering connection.
- Auckland Heritage Festival 26 September – 11 October
- Wellington Heritage Festival 24 October – 15 November
- Christchurch Heritage Festival 16 – 26 October
- Dunedin Heritage Festival 9-11 October
- Australian Engineering Heritage Conference Taking a holistic approach to engineering heritage – past, present and future. 11–12 November 2026 in Swinburne University, Melbourne
Heritage Anniversary
100th Anniversary of Liquid-Fuelled Rockets: On March 16, 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-propellant rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts, altering the course of aerospace engineering.
Featured Heritage Record
Built between 1924 and 1929, the Arapuni Power Station and Dam was the first government-built high dam constructed on the Waikato River. It pioneered the development of the Waikato Valley Hydro Electric Power Programme which was carried out between 1929 and 1966.
In 1923, worldwide tenders were called for the building of Arapuni and access to the site from Putaruru was commenced. A contract was placed with the British firm of Armstrong Whitworth in September 1924.
View of the Arapuni Dam and power station, 1929. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949: Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-1596-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22889673
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? Contact us at heritage@engineeringnz.org
