The ‘Friendly Invasion’ of New Zealand

ATL F 32258 1/4: American troops arriving by train.

As World War II raged in Europe and North Africa, at home, New Zealand underwent a ‘friendly invasion’ of American troops. Between 1942 and 1944, over 100,000 troops were stationed in New Zealand for varying periods.

Their presence was an outcome of New Zealand’s concern for security in its ‘own backyard’ as a new threat – the Japanese – cut a bloody path through the Pacific. The New Zealand Division were kept in the Mediterranean theatre of war and so the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill successfully lobbied President Roosevelt to send an American force to New Zealand to assure New Zealanders that they would be protected should the Japanese land on their shores.

In June 1942, the Americans arrived in strength with infantry and the famous US Marines landing in both Auckland and Wellington. Initially, the units stayed for a short period before heading to the battles in the Pacific. As the war progressed, the American divisions stayed longer.

American troops in New Zealand formed three main groups. First (and by far the majority) were those who were in the country for operational reasons (training for combat). These men were in camps in Auckland, Wellington, and the Wairarapa. The second group were the sick and wounded men evacuated to New Zealand for medical treatment at one of the 19 hospitals which were built, the largest two being at Cornwall Park in Auckland and Silverstream in Wellington. The third group comprised the steady stream of Americans – soldiers, sailors, and airmen – who came to New Zealand for rest and recreation.

These men made a huge impact on New Zealand society during the two years they were stationed in New Zealand. At its peak, in July 1943, there were 48,200 servicemen in the country with additional American sailors and merchant seamen making fleeting visits aboard warships and merchant vessels. The Americans provided both relief and curiosity for New Zealanders with their American customs and behaviours, their ‘strange’ accents and excellent manners, and their free-spending habits making them stand out from their staid New Zealand counterparts.

ATL F 352 1/4: US troops and kiwi women.

Coffee houses and milk bars sprung up – taxi drivers, florists, jewellers and hotel owners experienced a boom. A lively nightlife developed in Auckland and Wellington and our kiwi women were swept off their feet to the tunes of the American ‘big band’ music.

During the two years, 1396 New Zealand women married Americans in New Zealand and went to the US as war brides. However, for many other women, relationships were only fleeting, most ending in heartbreak or even unexpected pregnancies.

Of course, there were at times friction between American troops and New Zealand men, with the odd brawl breaking out on a Saturday night. Overall, the Americans were welcomed in New Zealand and as the last service personnel departed in October 1944, many would remember the young men, many of whom died on the beaches in the Pacific, with a particular fondness.

Did you know that Old St Paul’s Church in Wellington has the Marine Corp Banner and US flag (48 starts from wartime) hanging inside? It was a regular place of worship for US Marines stationed in the lower North Island and serves as a memorial to the past. 

1992.2635: US Marines at Majestic Cabaret in Wellington. National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.