Last updated November 2026
Volunteers with a passion for aircraft keep the Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum going, in a large hangar at Gisborne Airport on Aerodrome Road. The museum is run by the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society, and its displays cover vintage aircraft, machinery, memorabilia and the story of early flight on the East Coast.
Volunteers also restore retired aircraft here, turning them into exhibits that explain the region’s aviation past. Gisborne Airport’s page for the museum lists the days it opens and how to arrange a group visit.
Practical Information
- Address
- 13 Aerodrome Road, Gisborne (at Gisborne Airport)
- Opening hours
- See Gisborne Airport’s Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum page for the current days, hours and group visits
- Entry
- Not listed on the airport’s museum page; contact the museum
- Run by
- Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society (volunteers)
- Contact
- 027 536 6505 or ga********@***il.com
- Status
- Check Gisborne Airport’s Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum page before you go.
About Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum
The museum grew from the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society, which aviation enthusiasts founded to preserve and share the aviation heritage of Gisborne and the East Coast.
The Sunrise Foundation, which also calls it the Gisborne Aviation Museum, describes it as telling the story of early flight in the region and honouring the East Coast’s aviation pioneers. The society’s listing with the Gisborne Volunteer Centre gives a similar aim: to keep and share the story of the East Coast’s aviation pioneers.
Gisborne’s airfield also has a wartime link to the Avenger. In 1943 the RNZAF’s No. 30 Squadron trained on Grumman Avengers at Gisborne before heading to the Pacific. The society owns a former RNZAF Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, NZ2505.
The museum still depends on volunteer time, and restoration work is carried out by society volunteers. The Sunrise Foundation holds an endowment fund for the museum, and its yearly income goes to the museum’s running, preservation work and development.
What to See
Gisborne Airport lists vintage aircraft, machinery and displays at the museum, and the Sunrise Foundation describes carefully restored aircraft and personal memorabilia among its exhibits.
Planning a Visit
The volunteer team opens the museum on set days each week. Gisborne Airport’s museum page lists the current days and hours, with a phone number and email address for the society, so check it before you go and use those contacts to arrange a group visit.
From locals
Is the aviation museum a good option on a wet day?
Are there info panels beside the aircraft, or do you rely on a volunteer to explain things?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Tairāwhiti Aviation Museum?
In a hangar at Gisborne Airport, 13 Aerodrome Road, Gisborne.
When is it open?
On set days each week. Gisborne Airport’s museum page lists the current days and hours.
Who runs the museum?
Volunteers from the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society.
Does the society own an Avenger?
Yes. The Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society owns a former RNZAF Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, NZ2505.
Why is an Avenger linked to Gisborne?
The RNZAF’s No. 30 Squadron trained on Avengers at Gisborne’s airfield in 1943 before heading to the Pacific.
Is there an entry charge?
The airport’s museum page does not list one, so contact the museum to check.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 1
- Sunrise Foundation: Gisborne Aviation Museum: the society’s roots, the collection and the museum’s endowment fund.