New Zealand and the Second World War

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

New Zealand independently declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. This topic covers the battles fought, our defence forces, the Māori Battalion, heroes, nurses, the war effort at home ,and effects of the WW2 on New Zealand. SCIS no: 1892562

social_sciences, technology, arts, english, history, Māori

Image: Maori Battalion performing a haka, Egypt

Māori Battalion perform the haka

Every country has a small number of identifiable ‘iconic’ WW2 photographs and this is one of New Zealand's. Here members of the Māori Battalion perform the haka for George II, King of Greece, who was in exile in Egypt at that time. The men in the background are John Manuel, Maaka (Bill) White, Te Kooti (Scooty) Reihana and Rangi Henderson. John, Maaka and Rangi died in action and Te Kooti was wounded during the war. Evacuated from Greece and Crete during the German invasion, the battalion went on to serve throughout the North African campaigns. They suffered heavy casualties but gained a reputation for being outstanding soldiers.

Maori Battalion performing a haka, Egypt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Achievements - Māori and the Second World War

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Second World War timeline - Second World War - overview

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Crowd in Wellington on VJ Day

Crowd in Wellington on VJ Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Recruitment poster, 1940

Recruitment poster, 1940

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: VE Day crowds at Parliament

VE Day crowds at Parliament

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

NZEF in Italy, 1944

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

The North African Campaign - The North African Campaign

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Helmet, 'E.P.S. Information'

Helmet, 'E.P.S. Information'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Featherston's camp - Roadside Stories

Featherston's camp - Roadside Stories

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Godwin speaking about being a prisoner of war

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Amberley hero - Charles Upham

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Jayforce soldiers with Japanese children, Mishima Island, Japan

Jayforce soldiers with Japanese children, Mishima Island, Japan

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Thompson sub-machine gun

Thompson sub-machine gun

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Munitions factory workers, Second World War

Munitions factory workers, Second World War

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Land girl

Land girl

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

New Zealand and the Second World War - Second World War - overview

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tank designed by Robert Semple

Tank designed by Robert Semple

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Weekly Review No. 232 (1946)

Weekly Review No. 232 (1946)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Tama Tū

Tama Tū

NZ On Screen

Battle of the River Plate

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Poster, 'Taringa Whakarongo!'

Poster, 'Taringa Whakarongo!'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The Second World War

Services to Schools

War cemetery

Services to Schools

The battle of El Alamein

Nazi Germany’s first land defeat of WWII

Services to Schools

War Stories

Services to Schools

The ANZACs

Services to Schools

Home Guards

Services to Schools

Image: Wood carving created by a Japanese prisoner of war

Japanese wood carving

This wood carving was created by a Japanese prisoner at a camp near Featherston during WW2. At the request of the US military, New Zealand accepted Japanese prisoners of war from Guadalcanal. While many accepted their situation, some refused to work. In an unfortunate incident on 25 February, 1943, Japanese soldiers were shot dead or wounded by New Zealand guards at the Featherston POW camp. A military court exonerated New Zealand but the Japanese government refused to accept the court’s decision.

Wood carving created by a Japanese prisoner of war

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Charles Hazitt Upham

Charles Upham

This is a portrait photograph of Charles Upham, one on New Zealand’s greatest Second World War heroes. Upham is the only New Zealand soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice for his bravery in Crete in 1941 and in Egypt in 1942. Born in Christchurch in 1909, Upham joined the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force as soon as war broke out in September 1939. As a soldier, he was known for his toughness, steely determination and absolute professionalism.

Charles Hazitt Upham

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Poster, 'Volunteer For National Service'

Volunteer for national service

This poster appeals to New Zealanders to join the war effort by taking up auxiliary roles. For example, men could join the New Zealand Home Guard and women could become nurses. The Home Guard was created to defend New Zealand against a possible Japanese invasion. The New Zealand Army Nursing Service was set up during WWI by Hester Maclean who wanted New Zealand soldiers overseas to be nursed by New Zealanders. Much was learned during the First World War that helped nursing in the Second World War. About 680 nurses served during WW2.

Poster, 'Volunteer For National Service'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: HMS Leander lying at anchor in a Middle East port, World War II

HMNZS Leander

HMNZS Leander anchors in a Middle Eastern port during World War II. The light cruiser served with the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. In 1840 it sank the Italian commerce raider Ramb I in the Indian Ocean. Then in 1943, it fought alongside US ships against a Japanese cruiser in the Battle of Kolombangara in the Pacific War. Unfortunately, it got hit by an enemy torpedo after which the ship was sent to America for repairs.

HMS Leander lying at anchor in a Middle East port, World War II

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: On VJ day, Customhouse Quay, Wellington

VJ day

Canadian soldiers celebrate VJ Day or Victory Over Japan at Customhouse Quay in Wellington. America dropped atomic bombs over cities in Hiroshima and Nagasaki causing Japan to surrender and this brought an end to the Pacific war. News about the end of the war reached New Zealand at 11am on 15 August 1945. Sirens sounded and celebrations soon followed. A two day public holiday was declared in New Zealand.

On VJ day, Customhouse Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: [Germany. Heer. Panzergrenadier-Division Grossdeutschland, 90th] :New Zealand boys! Thanks for your message shot into our line a few days ago ... German soldiers do not murder their prisoners. The Men of the 90th Panzer-Grenadier-Division [1944]

Flyer to New Zealand boys

This flyer is an example of German propaganda distributed to Allied forces in Italy during WW2. It congratulates the New Zealand Army for their capture of Faenza in December 1944 but complains about 12 unarmed German prisoners who were allegedly shot by New Zealand soldiers. The Germans didn’t believe this was an honourable way to treat soldiers in war. The flyer invites the New Zealanders to wait for the end of the war in one of their quiet prisoner camps rather than face the fierce German artillery.

[Germany. Heer. Panzergrenadier-Division Grossdeutschland, 90th] :New Zealand boys! Thanks for your message shot into our line a few days ago ... G...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the Tonga Defence Force of 2nd NZEF, during a bayonet drill in Tonga

Tonga Defence Force of 2nd NZEF

Two rows of men face each other in a bayonet drill in Tonga. They are members of the Tonga Defence Force. Great Britain along with allies and United States declared war on Japan after it attacked the United States Naval Base Pearl Harbour. New Zealand declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941. For this reason, New Zealand had to step up its war effort in the Pacific. This image shows Tongan troops being trained by the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Members of the Tonga Defence Force of 2nd NZEF, during a bayonet drill in Tonga

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: News- There's a search off Lyttelton Harbour for WWII mines that could be activated by magnetic or acoustic activity. "Looks like 'Acoustic Activity' takes the day!" 11 August 2010

The man leaning over the boat with a mine detector is trying to locate WW2 mines laid in Lyttelton Harbour by the German minelayer Adjutant. The navy’s Mine Counter Measures (MCMT) Team was asked to search for the mines when plans came up to dredge the channel to deepen it. Similar mines were also said to be laid at the entrance to Wellington Harbour by the Adjutant — the only enemy vessel sunk in New Zealand waters during WW2.

News- There's a search off Lyttelton Harbour for WWII mines that could be activated by magnetic or acoustic activity. "Looks like 'Acoustic Activit...

Alexander Turnbull Library

US forces in New Zealand - US Forces in New Zealand

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: World War Two (New Zealand involvement)

World War Two (New Zealand involvement)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: World War Two (causes and impacts)

World War Two (causes and impacts)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: VJ Day street celebrations in Wellington

VJ Day street celebrations in Wellington

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Māori Battalion

Māori Battalion

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Hunua and Paparimu Roll of Honour

Hunua and Paparimu Roll of Honour

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: World War Two (daily life)

World War Two (daily life)

National Library of New Zealand

EPIC

Services to Schools

The Second World War

Services to Schools