Save our Technology History

EMERGENCY: Leaking Roof Puts NZ’s Computer History at Risk After Vandalism Incident

The Techvana Charitable Trust has issued an urgent appeal to the technology sector and the wider public to help save a priceless collection of NZ’s digital heritage.

Following an incident where a group of youths held an impromptu party on top of the museum’s 40-foot storage container in Auckland, the roof has sprung a severe leak. Decades of unique Kiwi technology artifacts, vintage computing gear, and historic telecommunications hardware are now facing imminent destruction from water damage.

The Trust has exactly seven days to secure $5,000 to fund immediate relocation and temporary climate-controlled storage for the next six months while a permanent home is prepared. The total cost to completely safeguard the collection for this transitional period is $20,000.

"This isn't just a collection of old microchips; it’s the physical story of New Zealand’s innovation, ingenuity, and digital evolution," says Mark Barlow, Techvana co-founder. "To lose these pieces to a preventable leak after surviving the hardships of the pandemic would be a tragedy for our history and future generations of innovators."

The Race Against the Clock

Since operating a physical museum space in Auckland from 2014 to 2018, Techvana’s extensive archive has been safely stored away. The unexpected breach of the container means the trust must act immediately to secure a 150sqm space to catalog, dry out, and protect the collection.