The Amp

In 1916, a unique group of New Zealanders arrived in France – not to fight above ground, but deep below it. In this episode, we uncover the remarkable story of the New Zealand Tunnelling Company, the first of our people to reach the Western Front and whose war was fought in darkness, beneath the trenches.      

Once a global seabird stronghold, Tīkapa Moana – the Hauraki Gulf – is now sounding the alarm. In this episode, we explore how seabirds, the storytellers of the sea, reveal the growing pressures on our ocean and what their decline means for the future of Aotearoa’s marine life.

This episode explores the story of the Ah Chee market garden and how Chinese families like theirs shaped the land and communities of early Aotearoa, while navigating laws and attitudes designed to exclude them.

The history of sport in New Zealand, isn’t all black and white. In this episode of The Amp, we put netball front and centre; tracing its journey from makeshift hoops to packed arenas. We chat with players, historians, and experts to settle the score on over a hundred years of netball in Aotearoa, and what makes it so much more than just a game.

When you think of the word diva, a few big names might come to mind. But in this episode, we dare our kaimahi to go into the archives and find us a forgotten diva. Someone who may not be a household name, but stood their ground, owned their talents, and left a lasting legacy -whether or not the world was watching.

In this episode of The Amp, we uncover the big secrets hidden in small change. Come with us into the collections as we look at rare coins and clever counterfeits, and learn what they can tell us about ancient economies, shifting political power, and the everyday lives of the people who spent them.

What do toilet doors, a ticket stub, and a choir gown have in common? They’re all clues to Aotearoa’s music legacy. Our curators collect more than just the hits - sometimes it’s the stuff you don’t see on stage that brings the history to life. In this episode of The Amp, we reveal the unexpected items that help us preserve the spirit of the NZ Music scene.

As Auckland’s War Memorial Museum, Anzac Day is our most important day of the year. In this episode, find out how we get ready to welcome thousands and thousands of visitors for the Dawn Service, and what it means to us to continue this time-honoured tradition.

Archaeology, prehistoric megabirds, and lasers. In this episode of The Amp, the ancient past meets the technology of the future, as we explore the world of 3D in all its Museum forms.

Ever wondered how Wikipedia works? Who edits it, and where does all the information come from? In this episode of The Amp, we’re lifting the lid on Wikipedia. Learn how the Museum has partnered with Wikipedia to get information out of our stores and onto the internet – where anyone can learn from it for free, wherever they are in the world.