NZ Timber Museum
Iconic Indigenous Birds and 2000 Years of Saws Exhibits to Feature in New Zealand Timber Museum
The New Zealand Timber Museum, located in Putaruru, continues to evolve as a hub for regional heritage and environmental awareness.
The New Zealand Timber Museum is set to unveil a significant new attraction celebrating Aotearoa’s avian heritage. Titled “Eight NZ Iconic Native Birds Exhibit”, the upcoming display will highlight some of the country’s most treasured and historically significant indigenous birds—both extant and extinct—as part of the Wildlife of New Zealand Forests Exhibition. This display will complement existing displays focusing on forestry, timber industry history, and native ecosystems.
The exhibit, launching soon, will offer visitors an immersive journey through time, ecology, and conservation, with each bird representing a unique chapter in the natural history of New Zealand’s forests.
Among the exhibit’s highlights is the Moa, the towering flightless bird that once roamed the lowland forests, now brought back to life through life-sized reconstructions and educational panels. Paired alongside it is the Haast’s Eagle, a once-formidable predator and the largest eagle known to have existed, which preyed upon the Moa before its own extinction.
Equally poignant is the inclusion of the Huia, a bird deeply woven into Māori culture and tragically lost to overhunting and habitat destruction. The exhibit features authentic artefacts and multimedia recreations of the Huia’s distinctive song, underscoring the consequences of human impact on biodiversity.
Living taonga are also featured, including the beloved Kiwi, a nocturnal symbol of national identity; the rare Takahē, once thought extinct and rediscovered in 1948; and the Kārearea (New Zealand Falcon), celebrated for its speed and agility.
Visitors will also encounter the Whio (Blue Duck), whose habitat along fast-flowing mountain rivers makes it both elusive and endangered, as well as the Kea, a highly intelligent alpine parrot known for its inquisitive nature and playfulness.
“This exhibition is not only about showcasing birds—it’s about storytelling, education, and fostering a deeper connection with our natural environment,” said a spokesperson for the museum. “We aim to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds with the beauty, history, and conservation needs of New Zealand’s unique birdlife.”
The museum invites schools, families, and nature enthusiasts alike to experience this captivating new installation upon its opening. The museum seeks an additional $5,000 to complete this display.
2000 Years of Saws” Exhibit at NZ Timber Museum
The New Zealand Timber Museum is preparing to unveil one of its most ambitious and visually striking exhibitions yet: “2000 Years of Saws”, tracing the evolution of sawing tools from ancient Rome to the modern forestry industry.
The upcoming exhibit will showcase more than 100 chainsaws—both one-person and two-person models—representing one of the largest known public collections of its kind anywhere in the world. The collection includes rare and historic saws, reflecting the deep technological and cultural connections between people and wood over two millennia.
Among the highlights already prepared for the exhibit is a more than 2,000-year-old Roman hand saw, recovered from a villa in Herculaneum, Italy—buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ancient saw is still in remarkable condition, and experts suggest it could be used again today with new handles and sharpening, offering a remarkable contrast to the mechanised marvels of the 20th century.
The museum is now seeking assistance from chainsaw enthusiasts, forestry professionals, forest owners, and industry managers to help assemble and install the display. With the right hands and know-how, this project could be completed swiftly and cost-effectively, showcasing the collective strength and passion of New Zealand’s forestry community. To bring the full exhibition to a professional standard—complete with signage, digital displays, and video content—the museum estimates a total project cost of approximately $15,000 or potentially less, depending on the support received from the community.
A key feature of the display will be a stunning 6.5-metre by 2.4-metre ACN backdrop image of a New Zealand pine forest. This immersive forest scene will serve as the backdrop to three tiered rows of chainsaws mounted on custom blocks (at heights of 300mm, 600mm, and 900mm), creating an engaging and educational forest-floor effect. The backdrop has been fully designed and is ready for manufacture and installation at a cost of $6,000.
If you or your organisation can assist—whether through time, materials, equipment, or expertise—please contact the New Zealand Timber Museum directly. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant display and be part of preserving and promoting New Zealand’s rich forestry heritage.
For enquiries or to express interest in volunteering, please visit www.nztimbermuseum.co.nz or email Denis Neilson, Chair of the Timber Museum Trust.