World War II in New Zealand: From Tunnels to Coastal Defences

When War Came to the Pacific

Most people picture Europe or the Pacific Islands when they think of WWII, not New Zealand. Yet the country was on high alert throughout the conflict. With Japanese forces advancing across the Pacific and American troops stationed locally, New Zealand bristled with bunkers, radar stations, and gun batteries.

Godley Head – Defending Christchurch

Perched above Lyttelton Harbour, Godley Head Battery was one of New Zealand’s strongest coastal defence points. On the Honour Bound tour, guests walk past restored gun emplacements, plotting rooms, and bunkers, imagining the tension of lookouts scanning the sea for enemy ships.

Stony Batter & Waiheke Island – Hidden Tunnels

On Auckland’s Waiheke Island, the Stony Batter Historic Reserve hides kilometres of WWII tunnels carved deep into the rock. Originally designed for giant coastal guns, these tunnels are now accessible by guided walk. Combined with visits to radar stations and emplacements, they tell the story of how Auckland was prepared to repel invasion.

Blumine Island & Fort Taiaroa – Strategic Strongholds

In the Marlborough Sounds, Blumine Island once hosted a secret gun battery and camp. Further south, Dunedin’s Fort Taiaroa still houses a rare Armstrong Disappearing Gun — a marvel of Victorian engineering that was reactivated in WWII. These sites show how the defence of New Zealand stretched from one end of the country to the other.

The American “Friendly Invasion”

At its height, over 100,000 US servicemen were stationed in New Zealand, leaving a lasting cultural legacy. Sites like Kaitaia and Warkworth tell their stories, from logistics depots to training camps. For many Kiwis, this period was their first taste of American music, food, and camaraderie.