Gisborne Aviation Museum

The Gisborne Aviation Museum is a much-loved, local attraction dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich aviation heritage of Gisborne and the wider East Coast.

Now, through the establishment of the Gisborne Aviation Museum Endowment Fund with Sunrise Foundation, supporters have a new way to help protect this remarkable legacy for generations to come.

The Endowment Fund will provide long-term, sustainable income to support the museum’s ongoing work, from preserving significant aircraft and artefacts, to supporting educational programmes, exhibitions and visitor experiences. 

Housed in a large hangar at the Gisborne Airport, the museum is home to an extraordinary collection of heritage aircraft and aviation artefacts. Visitors can step inside and explore icons such as the DC-3, Tiger Moth, Fletcher and Grumman Avenger, see engines up close, and learn about the engineering skill and dedication behind their restoration.

More than a collection of aircraft, the museum brings history, education and hands-on learning together. 

The museum’s roots trace back to the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society (GAPS), founded in 1995 by passionate aviation enthusiasts determined to protect Gisborne’s aviation legacy. Today, volunteers continue that restoration work, transforming retired aircraft into educational assets that connect generations through shared stories of flight.

By contributing to the Gisborne Aviation Museum Endowment Fund, donors can play a direct role in safeguarding Tairāwhiti’s aviation heritage — honouring the pioneers, preserving the engineering achievements, and inspiring the next generation to explore, learn and discover.

If you are passionate about local history, engineering, education or aviation, we warmly invite you to consider supporting the Gisborne Aviation Museum Endowment Fund. Your gift — large or small — will help keep our region’s story of flight alive.