Coastal fortifications of New Zealand


Coastal fortifications were constructed in New Zealand in two main waves: around 1885 as a response to fears of an attack by Russia, and in World War II due to fears of invasion by the Japanese.
The fortifications were built from British designs adapted to New Zealand conditions. They typically included gun emplacements, pill boxes, fire control or observation posts, camouflage strategies, underground bunkers, sometimes with interconnected tunnels, containing magazines, supply and plotting rooms and protected engine rooms supplying power to the gun turrets and searchlights. There were also kitchens, barracks, and officer and NCO quarters.

The "Russian-scare" forts of 1885

In the 1870s New Zealand was a young self-governing colony of Britain. It had developed no coastal defences of any consequence and was becoming increasingly sensitive to how vulnerable its harbours were to attack by a hostile power or opportunistic raider. In the aftermath of the Crimean war, Tsarist Russia seemed particularly suspicious.

...what has been hailed the greatest spoof in the country's history. The Monday, 18 February 1873 edition of the Southern Cross reported the sudden declaration of war between England and Russia. As a result, the Russian warship Kaskowiski – whose very name should have made sober readers suspicious – had allegedly entered Auckland Harbour on the previous Saturday night and proceeded to capture a British ship, along with the city's arms and ammunition supply, and hold a number of leading citizens for ransom. The 954-man Russian vessel obviously meant business, with a dozen 30-ton guns as well as a remarkably new advance in warfare, a paralysing and deadly "water-gas" that could be injected into enemy ships from a great distance.

The Southern Cross article created panic and the Government commissioned its first reports on the colony's defences. It was now clearly understood that Britain would protect its territories and vital shipping routes, but the defence of individual ports was the responsibility of each self-governing colony. Then Russia declared war on Turkey in 1877 producing another "scare". The decision was taken to construct fortifications and purchase naval boats which would protect the harbours at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. These coastal artillery fortifications or land batteries were to be based on British designs. Heavy artillery pieces and ammunition was ordered from Britain. By 1885 work started in earnest on the construction of what eventually became seventeen forts, further encouraged by yet another Russian scare.

Artillery

In 1885 the New Zealand Government bought ten Armstrong BL 8-inch and thirteen Armstrong BL 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages. The disappearing gun was the very latest in military technology in the 1880s. It was "disappearing" because as it fired, the recoil pushed the gun back underground where it could be reloaded under cover. The total costs of this artillery plus the costs of installation including land, emplacements, magazines and barracks was about £160,000.
Following the "second Russian scare" a number of additional RML 7-inch and 64-pr guns were also installed
Artillery circa 1890NumberRangeNotes
Armstrong BL 8-inch Mk VII disappearing guns104 milesWeighed 13.5 tons and fired a 180-pound shell.
Armstrong BL 6-inch disappearing guns133 milesWeighed 5 tons and fired a 100-pound shell.
RML 7 inch 7 ton guns11Weighed 7 tons.
RML 64-pr Mk 3 guns92 milesWeighed 64 cwt

The forts

FortHarbourWay-
point
Ordnance
circa 1890
Range
DatesNotes
North HeadAuckland1xBL 8in gun
RML 7in guns
64-pr guns
1870At Devonport, divided into three sub-forts:
  • North Battery
  • South Battery
  • Fort Cautley.
Bastion PointAuckland2xBL 6in guns1885–In Mission Bay. Not completed.
Fort ResolutionAuckland2xBL 6in guns1885In Parnell.
Fort TakapunaAuckland2xBL 6in guns1886–
Fort VictoriaAuckland1xBL 8in gun1885On Mount Victoria, Devonport. The gun fired only once because of complaints from residents whose windows were broken.
Fort BallanceWellington2x7" RML guns1x6" BLHP gun
2 x QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt guns
1885 Point Gordon. At Miramar. Wellington's primary military fort until 1911 when Fort Dorset opened.
Fort GordonWellington1x8" BLHP gun1895-1924Point Gordon
Fort BuckleyWellington2x64-pr RML guns2At Kaiwharawhara.
Haswell BatteryWellington1xBL 8in gun1889At Miramar.
Kau Point BatteryWellington1xBL 8in gun1891-1922At Miramar.
Fort KelburneWellington2xBL 8in guns1885At Ngauranga.
Battery PointLyttelton2x7in RML guns
1x QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt guns
1885On the north side of Lyttelton Harbour, 3 miles from mouth.
Fort JervoisLyttelton2x8in BL guns
2x6in BL guns
1886On Ripapa Island on the south side of Lyttelton Harbour Fort Jervois is an internationally rare 1880s “Russian Invasion Scare” structure, which has retained a high level of authenticity of both structure and hardware. It is one of only five examples of this type of fortification in the world. The Island has been managed by the Department of Conservation since 1990.
Spur Point BatteryLyttelton1x64-pounder RML gun1885Site of battery, quarried away as part of land reclamation during the 1970s to build Cashin Quay.
Lawyer's Head BatteryPort Chalmers1885Eastern Ocean Beach, Dunedin South.
Ocean Beach BatteryPort Chalmers1886
St Clair BatteryPort Chalmers1885On a spur of Forbury Hill above Second Beach, Dunedin. No remnants remain; the area was cleared and subdivided for residential housing.
Fort TaiaroaPort Chalmers1xBL 6in gun1885Otago Harbour. This Armstrong Disappearing Gun was installed in May 1889 and was recommissioned during World War II. It is the only one of its kind working and is still in its original gun pit.

World War II coastal fortifications

The second main wave of building coastal fortifications occurred during World War II. This was mainly a response to a perceived threat of invasion by the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor. From 1942 until 1944, when the threat receded, 42 coastal artillery fortifications or land batteries were either developed using historical fortifications or were built from scratch. The fortifications were built from British designs adapted to New Zealand conditions. Radar was installed which allowed long range shooting at night and replaced the traditional fortress system of range finding.

Ordnance

The fortifications were equipped with both old and new ordnance, mostly British. Some World War I ordnance was requisitioned from museums and recommissioned.
Ordnance used during World War IINumberRangeNotes
9.2 inch guns618 miles
BL 314 miles
BL 6 inch Mk 21 guns613 miles
6 inch Mark 7 guns3212 miles
26 milesElswick Ordnance Company
5"/51 caliber guns 610 miles51 calibre MkVII 1912
4.7in guns16 miles
4 inch Mark 7 guns119 miles
155mm guns29 miles
75mm guns2
QF 88 miles
QF 6 pdr guns125 miles
484 miles
CASLs48Coastal Artillery Searchlight

The fortifications

The fortifications were administered by the Royal New Zealand Artillery, which grouped them into four areas. Each area was under the command of a heavy artillery regiment. Within each regiment the fortifications were grouped into batteries.

Upper North Island

Under the command of the 9th Heavy Regiment.
BatteryNameWay-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
DatesNotes
60Motutapu Island3 x 6in Mk 21 guns
2 x CASLs
131936
-1945
Consisted of a battery, camp, gun emplacement, pill boxes and US naval magazines. Its remains are administered by DOC.
61
RHQ
North Head
2 x 4in Mk 7 guns
2 x 12pdr guns
4 x 6pdr H&N
6 x CASLs
91870
-1957
Part of Auckland's coastal defence system from the Russian scare in 1885 to World War I. By World War II, with ships' guns able to fire long distances, the old fort was too close to the city it was meant to defend. New batteries were built at Motutapu, Castor Bay, Whangaparaoa and Waiheke Island and North Head became the centre of administration. A complex of tunnels, guns, searchlights and other fortifications remain and it is now a historic reserve managed by the Department of Conservation.
61Bastion Point
2 x 12pdr gun
Twin 6pdr guns
3xCASLs
81885–Located in Mission Bay. The fortifications were buried in the 1940s when the Michael Joseph Savage memorial was built, and effectively forgotten. The underlying tunnels were later rediscovered.
61Great Barrier Island6in Mk 7 gun
4in Mk 7 gun
4 x 40mm Bofors
12
61Manukau1x4.7in gun61942Built by American Forces at the end of Harvey Road, Manukau Heads, approximately 100 m north of lighthouse site, this open fronted fortification had one gun, and an observation post inland. Accommodation was at the end of Harvey Road, with only concrete pads remaining for some buildings. Due to the erosive nature of these compacted sandhills the gun emplacement was undermined and slipped down the cliffs in the early 1980s. According to local residents, the gun was only fired 6 times, cracking the concrete abutments.
61Motuihe Island2 x 4in Mk 7 guns91872–During World War II the Motuihe buildings became HMNZS Tamaki naval base, a training establishment. Now in the care of the Department of Conservation.
62Fort Takapuna
2 x 4in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
91886–Also known as HMNZS Tamaki, and Narrow Neck. In 1963 the RNZN moved its New Entry Training School HMNZS Tamaki from Motuihe Island to the fort. The navy built a new Gunnery School and set up an Officer Training School. Previously officers had been sent overseas for training. Only the Officer and Trade Training schools remain. Has been under the care of the Department of Conservation since 2000.
63Castor Bay2 x 6in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
121942
-1944

Notable for its camouflage strategies during World War II.
64Whanga-
paraoa
2 x 6in Mk 7 guns
2 x CASLs
12SE tip of peninsula
163Whanga-
paraoa
2 x 9.2in guns18SE tip of peninsula
164Stony Batter
2 x 9.2in guns181942–Waiheke Island. Now in the care of the Department of Conservation.
68Moturoa Island4 x 6in Mk 7 guns
8 x 40mm Bofors
12Bay of Islands
68Whangaroa6in Mk 7 gun12South Head of harbour.
139Bream Head
5in Mk 7 gun 101942
-1944
Entrance to Whangarei harbour. Remaining structures are the gun shelter, engine room, and observation post. The most significant feature is the spotting mural with compass bearings painted above the slit window in the observation post.

Lower North Island

Under the command of the 10th Heavy Regiment.
BatteryNameWay-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
DatesNotes
70Palmer Head3x6in Mk 21 guns
4xCASLs
131936
-1957
At the entrance to the Wellington Harbour. The abandoned gun pits were blown up in the late 1960s. The only remains are the underground plotting rooms, which are closed for safety reasons.
71
RHQ
Fort Dorset2x6in Mk 7 guns
2x4in Mk 7guns
4x12pdr guns
7xCASLs
121908
-1991
At the inner entrance to Wellington harbour. The fort was demolished in 1998.
72Fort Ballance
2x4in Mk 7guns
Twin 6pdr guns
2x75mm guns
6xCASLs
91885–
1945
Point Gordon
By Mount Crawford, Karaka Bays, Wellington's primary fort until 1911 when Fort Dorset opened, Fort Ballance was closed in 1945 but remnants remain.
73Fort Opau2x6in Mk 7 guns121942
-1944
On a high headland above Mākara, on Wellington's west coast, protecting Cook Strait. The fort was built in 1941, and comprised two covered 6" gun emplacements, a battery operations post, and an observation post and a radar post, with a large barracks several hundred metres inland.
165Wrights Hill Fortress2x9.2in guns181942
1957
This British-designed fortress was similar to the 9.2 inch fortresses built at Whangaparaoa and Stoney Batter. 2,030 feet of interconnecting tunnels were dug. Two 185 hp diesel generators provided power to manoeuvre the guns. Each gun weighed 135 tons and could fire a 380-pound shell across Cook Strait or up to Plimmerton. The fortress was used for training purposes up to the mid-1950s. In early 1960 the guns were sold for scrap, ironically, to the Japanese. The Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society is restoring the coastal battery to its former state.
77Bluff Hill2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
12At Napier. Also a signal station during World War II, although never a lighthouse, despite being situated on Lighthouse Road.
77Titirangi 5in Mk 7 gun 10Located at Gisborne.
78Moturoa2x155mm guns
4x40mm Bofors
9At New Plymouth.
140Languard Bluff5in Mk 7 gun 10At Wanganui.

Upper South Island

Under the command of the 11th Heavy Regiment.
BatteryNameWay-
point
World War II
Ordnance
Range
DatesNotes
80
RHQ
Godley Head3x6in Mk 24 guns
2xCASLs
141939
-1963
At the northern entrance to Lyttelton Harbour, the last NZA to be decommissioned. It last fired a gun in 1959. In its heyday in World War II, it was staffed by over 400 men and women and was a self-contained community. It is ranked in the top ten New Zealand coastal defence heritage sites. It is now under the care of the Department of Conservation and the Godley Head Heritage Trust.
81Battery Point
2x4in Mk 7guns
Twin 6pdr guns
5xCASLs
91886–On the northern side of Lyttelton Harbour, 3 miles from mouth.
81Fort Jervois
6in EOC gun61886On Ripapa Island on the southern side of Lyttelton Harbour. It is an internationally rare 1880s “Russian Invasion Scare” military defence structure, which has retained a high level of authenticity of both structure and hardware. It is one of only five examples of this type of fortification in the world. The island has been managed by the Department of Conservation since 1990.
Magazine Bay
?1886Lyttelton, in conjunction with nearby torpedo boat base.
84Tory Channel entrance6in Mk 7 gun
12x40mm Bofors
12Queen Charlotte Sound
84Maraetai6in Mk 7 gun12In Tory Channel, Queen Charlotte Sound.
84Blumine Island; 2x6in Mk 7 guns121942
-1945
Guarding the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, the guns are positioned separately on the two northern points of Blumine Island. Associated with each emplacement are a magazine, observation post and accommodation camp.
84Post Office Point6in Mk 7 gun12In Pelorus Sound.
84Maud Island6in Mk 7 gun12At the entrance to Pelorus Sound. Under the care of the Department of Conservation.
84Port Hills6in Mk 7 gun12In Nelson.
85Smithfield Freezing Works2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
121942–
1944
In Timaru. The No 2 gun shelter is in an excellent state of preservation
134Westport5in Mk 7 gun
4x40mm Bofors
101942–
1944
On South Spit. The gun emplacement is no longer there but the battery observation post is visible on Google Earth.
134Cobden5in Mk 7 gun
4x40mm Bofors
101942–
1944
At Greymouth. Establishment: 2 Officers, 1 WO, 3 Sergeants and 26 ORs. Grey District Council destroyed part of this site, without consultation, in 2007 to make way for a sewer line
143Wainui2x6in Mk 7 guns
4x40mm Bofors
2xCASLs
121942–
1944
At Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula

Lower South Island

Under the command of the 13th Heavy Regiment.

Post war

The advent of air warfare and missiles made these forts redundant and most were decommissioned by the 1950s. Godley Head continued because of compulsory military training and last fired a gun in 1959. The Department of Conservation has the remains of around 30 installations on land it manages.

Postscript

None of the forts fired a gun in anger, though in October 1939 a Battery Point gun at Lyttleton accidentally sank the fishing boat "Dolphin" and killed its skipper.
In 1972 the United States declassified a contingency plan for invading New Zealand. This plan consisted of a 120-page intelligence document called Naval War Plan for the Attack of Auckland, New Zealand. The intelligence for the report was gathered during the visit of the Great White Fleet to Auckland over six days in 1908. The plan advocated Manukau Harbour as the best invasion point and landing heavy guns on Rangitoto Island to shell the forts on the North Shore. The plan was not very realistic and may have been an exercise to keep young officers busy.