World War 2

The Second World War remains the world’s greatest conflict, and New Zealand’s participation in it was this country’s most significant national effort.

Although the Great War of 1914-18 cost the lives of more New Zealanders, the Second World War involved a larger mobilisation of people and resources.

About 140,000 men and women served overseas, 104,000 in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, the rest in British or New Zealand naval or air forces.

In total, 194,000 men and 10,000 women served in the armed forces, and almost 12,000 of them lost their lives.

Second World War | NZHistory, New Zealand history online

As you can imagine, the topic of New Zealand’s participation in World War 2 is massive and there are vast amounts of research available and currently underway.

We only have limited amounts of member research available at the moment to help you on your journey but will be adding to this continually from now on, please do come back to this page to check for new material from time to time.

The Cook Islands in WW2

Many New Zealanders have gone to the idyllic Cook Islands and roamed around the main island of Rarotonga, mountainous, jungle covered and a tourist destination. Many know about the Rarotonga soldiers who serviced overseas on active service during WW1. But what is less understood is the Cook Islands and their service during WW2. During WW2 the Cook Islands were a territory of New Zealand and as such should be considered part of the New Zealand war effort.


The NZMHS is proud to present two fascinating articles by researcher and historian Barry O’Sullivan available to read in the preview windows below or download as PDF files for further research.

For more information please contact Barry via the contact page form.

THE COOK ISLANDS LOCAL DEFENCE FORCE 1941-1945

This fascinating and valuable article is available for download below

THE AITUTAKI HOME GUARD

To download this article please click link below

For a list of all those who served download from the link below, we realise this list will never be 100% complete so if you have any additions or alterations please use the form available on the Resource page.

Coast Watchers

13th October 2022

The Minister of Defence, Hon Peeni Henare, has announced a number of steps to formally recognise the valuable service of Pacific Island coastwatchers during the Second World War.

In 1942, it was decided that all New Zealand civilian coastwatchers should be attested in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). However this policy was never properly implemented in the Cook Islands.

A report by the New Zealand Defence Force found that it appeared no consideration was given to attesting civilians in the Cook Islands who performed coastwatching duties very similar to those undertaken by attested military personnel.

“This is long overdue recognition of the Pacific Island coastwatchers and the important role they played in our early warning system in the Pacific,” Peeni Henare said.

“It is important to acknowledge the service of all our coastwatchers whether on the New Zealand mainland, Chatham Islands, the sub-Antarctic Islands and especially in the Pacific. With Japanese advances into the Pacific in 1942, these stations became very dangerous places. The brutal killing of our coastwatchers on Tarawa and the suffering of those captured showed the real risks of this service.”

This recognition for Pacific Island coastwatchers includes:

• a certificate of service signed by Her Excellency The Governor-General,
• giving families the opportunity to have Service plaques attached to their headstones like other Service personnel; and
• publishing an online historical record of their service

“After representations from descendants, the Government asked the New Zealand Defence Force to undertake historical research to identify whether Second World War Pacific Island coastwatchers had been appropriately recognised for the service.”

“The historical report prepared by Defence Historian John Crawford reviewed the role played by Cook Islanders and other Pacific Islands civilians in the coastwatching organisation outside mainland New Zealand. The report concludes that the approximately 50 to 60 civilian coastwatchers (including one Pākehā New Zealander) in the Cook Islands and another 50 civilians elsewhere in the Pacific did not receive any formal recognition of their service.”

“We will work with descendants to identify the Pacific Island coastwatchers and any other New Zealand coastwatchers to ensure that these brave people all have the recognition they deserve,” Peeni Henare said.

Mr Henare announced that there will also be a national commemorative service at the National War Memorial in Wellington on Saturday 15 October to mark the service of all New Zealand coastwatchers in the Second World War. That date is the 80^th anniversary of the murder of 17 New Zealand coastwatchers and five civilians from Australia and the United Kingdom, on Tarawa. Another New Zealand coastwatcher died in captivity on Ocean Island.

Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service

The Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service was officially formed in December 1941 but it was not until January 1942 that units began to form. The NAPS formed part of the RNZN and its members were enlisted as hostilities only ratings, as such they were paid and clothed by the navy.

The role of this home guard type unit was to patrol the inner harbours of the main ports during the night on the lookout for enemy vessels, mines dropped by aircraft and for saving lives in an emergency. Fuel and rations were supplied by the government. Units were established in Auckland, Whangarei, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin.

Men who enrolled had to be over the age of 16 but this did not exclude them from being called up for active service. Only ratings were enrolled in the NAPS. The vessels used by the NAPS were owned by an individual member. The vessel owner, who was usually the skipper, was given the rank of Chief Petty Officer and deputy skippers the rank of Petty Officers.

The uniform worn by the NAPS was the same as for the RNZN but with a badge of the letters N.A.P.S. sewn to the left cuff. A small badge was also produced and worn on the lapel of civilian clothing. The total strength was approximately 570 ratings with a peak strength of 463 in August 1942. The NAPS was disbanded in early 1944.

All the vessels used by the NAPS retained their original name. This list contains the names of those known to have served and while these men may not have served overseas on active duty, the men of the NAPS did their bit for the war effort and this contributed, while often overlooked or not known still formed part of the important war effort at home.