The newsletter of the Engineering Heritage Group of
Engineering New Zealand - Te Ao Rangahau
October 2025
Our home page: Engineering Heritage
Welcome to our monthly
news sheet.
If you have an
engineering heritage interest you can join one of our regional chapters by
emailing here: heritage@engineeringnz.org
Editor - email
If you know someone who
might be interested in this, please pass this on.
New Heritage Record Listing –
Shelley Beach
overbridge project
Our Canterbury Chapter
is in urgent need of new members. If you know anyone in the catchment area
(Engineering NZ Canterbury and Nelson / Marlborough Branch areas) please give
them a nudge – perhaps with this newsletter – the contact for them is heritage@engineeringnz.org
Recent Publications
Noted in New
Zealand Memories Issue 173 April 2025
Callan Brid and Nicola
Jennings: Auckland’s Early Water Supply. It focuses on the Western
Springs supply but covers the other early water sources well. Order: New Zealand Memories
Issue 173
'I've found a steam train':
We covered this
discovery last month. The engine has now been recovered from the Whanganui dune.
The story of its recovery: Steam Rail Wanganui video
More about them: SteamRail Wanganui Inc.
Two South Island
heritage icons have been proposed for the country’s highest heritage status –
and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga wants your feedback.
Te Matatiki Toi Ora The
Arts Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch and the Ōamaru Historic Town Centre and
Port have been nominated for National Historic Landmark status – and as part of
the nomination process, the public are invited to have their say.
See Heritage New Zealand -
National Historic Landmarks | Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Both have elements of
our heritage listing Record sites within them:
Ōamaru Harbour
Breakwater | Engineering NZ
Canterbury College
School of Engineering Lab | Engineering NZ
Worthy of support! Submissions close 19 November.
Looking at our Record / Register Sites
Site of the Month
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.” More
Aerial view of Musick Point, Howick, Auckland. Whites
Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-02384-F. Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23096313
From the Board
Introducing the
members:
Chair: Garry Law –
appointed by Engineering NZ
From the Chapters:
Auckland: Brent Meekan
Wellington: Karen
Astwood (acting)
Canterbury: vacant
Otago: Robert Crosbie
Other reps:
Heritage New Zealand:
Karen Astwood
Department of
Conservation: Tom Barker
Special Interest Group:
Cass Goodwin
Young Engineers: Jack
Southee
Board Representative: vacant
An anniversary: South Seas Exhibition held in Dunedin in 1925
This link will take you
to an entry in Scattered Seeds which is a Dunedin Public Library database. The
entry is for the South Seas Exhibition held in Dunedin in 1925. There were
other exhibitions prior to that, also mentioned in the entry, held in Dunedin
which at that time was the most prosperous city in the country, largely on the
back of Central Otago gold.
While there was some
engineering in creating the Exhibition the exhibits also highlighted New
Zealand’s growing industries and their engineering.
Some news items
Aviation Industry
Celebrates 50 Years of CT-4 Airtrainer
Book Talk – Industrial
era history given life in book - Otago Daily Times. “A qualified engineer with
a gift for storytelling, A qualified engineer with a gift for storytelling, Mrs
Wrigglesworth has built a reputation for bringing New Zealand’s industrial and
structural heritage to life through her writing.”
Industrial era history
given life in book | Otago Daily Times Online News
Chain hill tunnel – a walking track through a heritage rail tunnel is
about to open in Dunedin
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19zwrKPAfF/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Auckland Wooden Boat
Festival returns for 2026 - Boating New Zealand Boating New Zealand Classic
craft, heritage displays, and family fun as the celebration of New Zealand's
wooden boats comes back to Auckland's waterfront. Auckland
Wooden Boat Festival returns for 2026 - Boating New Zealand
Scraper used to form
canals now on display
A Terex S24
scraper has become the latest addition to the Twizel Heritage Machinery Display.
Another major piece has been added to the growing Twizel Heritage Machinery
Display
A Terex S24 scraper,
donated by philanthropist and Rooney Group director Gary Rooney, has now been
added to the display which features various earthmoving machinery utilised on
the Upper Waitaki Power Development.
Scraper used to form
canals now on display | Otago Daily Times Online News
This year is the 150th
anniversary of the birth of Walter Ernest Bush (1875–1950). He was a distinguished
local government engineer in Auckland City.
Here is an extract from
our coverage:
“Walter Bush is notable for his significant
early 20th century contribution to the development of Auckland, New Zealand’s
largest city. In 1906 he was appointed Auckland’s City Engineer and retained
this position until 1929, when he became Brisbane’s Chief Water Supply and
Sewage Engineer.”
See more: Walter Ernest Bush
(1875–1950) | Engineering NZ
Te Ara covers him as
well: Bush, Walter Ernest |
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography | Te Ara
Online Heritage
Resources - Nelson City Council
Lots of local and other
resources listed there.
We especially like The
Prow: Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman history,
culture and stories - New Zealand | Ngā Kōrero o Te Tau Ihu
Heritage Technology Museum of the Month
BIGGIN HILL Historic
Aircraft Centre at
RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand https://bigginhilltrust.org.nz/
If you can’t get there then see the virtual tour on the website.
Some of the exhibits
are airworthy and there is a flying programme. NB visitation is by appointment.
Follow engineering heritage news on Facebook
Aotearoa New Zealand
Engineering Heritage
What we do
Our vision is to ensure
New Zealand’s engineering achievements are widely recognised and valued. We
want everyone to know about the major contributions engineering has made to
building New Zealand’s society and economy.
The heritage website is
a repository of information for exploring, researching, and enjoying New
Zealand's engineering heritage.
Our objectives are to:
·
Interpret
and enhance understanding of our engineering heritage.
·
Promote
the protection, preservation and conservation of our engineering heritage.
·
Identify
and record our engineering heritage resources.
·
Inform
the public of the critical role engineering plays in modern society.
·
Support
our members in their professional practice with heritage
Shape the future of the heritage sector in New Zealand.
Join our heritage groups. Email: heritage@engineeringnz.org
We associate with:
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
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