ABOUT US

STARDOME - OUR HISTORY

Stardome and its team have been sharing a love of space from its premises in Auckland’s One Tree Hill Domain since 1967 and has operated as a place of exploration, research and sharing of knowledge ever since. 

Stardome’s history began in 1948 when the Auckland Astronomical Society began fundraising for a public observatory in Auckland. By 1956 they had significant funds, including a substantial bequest from Mrs Edith Winstone Blackwell for the purchase of a telescope for public use. The Society formed the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board to build on these funds and provide for the construction and management of a new observatory.

In 1960 One Tree Hill Borough Council provided a 21-year lease, which has been subsequently extended, for a site in One Tree Hill Domain (which Stardome still occupies), and in March 1967 the Observatory opened. 

AUCKLAND'S PLANETARIUM

Originally the Auckland Museum operated a Planetarium which had been donated by the Farmers Trading Company in 1958. The Planetarium at the Museum closed in 1989, allowing Stardome the opportunity to build a replacement Planetarium. Fundraising was undertaken with a clear vision to provide the country with the best facility possible.

Major funding from the Lotteries Commission, the ASB Community Trust, a loan from the Auckland City Council and donations from the Auckland public raised nearly $3 million for the project. The new planetarium and associated facilities opened in February 1997 and remains the largest and most advanced in New Zealand.

 Stardome now provides the Auckland region and New Zealand with leading-edge planetarium technology coupled with expert personalised assistance from our team of astronomy educators and presenters.

UPGRADES TO PLANETARIUM AND OBSERVATORY

In 2016 Stardome was upgraded with a refurbishment of the retail and reception areas and the installation of two new interactive displays: The History of Spacecraft is a 360-degree toy brick display and Space Tracker is an interactive 9-panel display where visitors can learn about the latest space exploration missions. Space Tracker is updated in-house every few weeks. 

In 2010 the Stardome interior was upgraded to include interactive displays and exhibits showing materials from space. 

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to be a trusted centre for sharing astronomy and mātauranga in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. We offer visitors the experience of learning with entertainment in a planetarium and observatory environment. 


STARDOME'S SUPPORTERS

Stardome Observatory and Planetarium is grateful for the significant support it receives from the ratepayers of the Auckland region and Auckland Council, through the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board.

We also thank the following organisations and individuals for their generous contribution to Stardome:

  • Asia New Zealand Foundation
  • Auckland Astronomical Society
  • Chisholm Whitney Family Charitable Trust
  • Clement T Bostock
  • Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation
  • Foundation North
  • Mt Wellington Trust
  • New Zealand Lottery Grants board
  • Oxford Sports Trust
  • Pub Charity
  • Regional Facilities Auckland 
  • Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate
  • Sir Po-Shing Woo
  • Sky City Auckland Community Trust
  • The Four Winds Foundation
  • The Lion Foundation
  • The Southern Trust
  • The Trusts Charitable Foundation

SUPPORTING STARDOME

You can support Stardome and become one of our recognised sponsors through a variety of opportunities. Here are  some of the many ways you can be involved:

  • Sponsor a show and have sponsorship naming rights to that show. This may also include the chance to display your products and services to the audience of that show.
  • Sponsor the purchase of new telescopes for our courtyard telescope viewing and have your organisation recognised on our promotional collateral and website.
  • Sponsor the purchase of educational equipment for Stardome’s educational or school holiday programmes. We will incorporate your organisation’s sponsorship details in our promotional collateral and on our website.
  • Sponsor our widely distributed marketing and promotional collateral and we will include your company details in our collateral.

Depending on the size and scope of your contribution, we may be able to provide your organisation with the opportunity to visit the Stardome and watch a planetarium show as a thank you for this support. You could use this as a special gift for your customers or as a reward for your team.

To talk to us about becoming a Stardome sponsor at marketing@stardome.org.nz. We would love to hear from you!

 


CORPORATE INFORMATION

Access Stardome’s annual reports, strategic plan and meet the Board of Trustees on our corporate information page.