During World War II, the eyes and ears for the Allied effort in the pacific were coastwatch stations, keeping watch for ships and planes, and monitoring radio activity. They were manned by a mixture of Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force soldiers, civilian radio operators, and local Pacific Island radio operators. To give civilian coastwatchers more legal protection should they be captured, an attempt was made to attest them into military service. For the Cook Islands coastwatchers and a small number of Post and Telegraph coastwatchers, this did not eventuate and their service was not formally recognised. Today, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies, joined by representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force, welcomed descendants from these coastwatchers to recognise their service during the war.
Dame Cindy particularly acknowledged Willie Cuthers, who’s efforts to honour the service of his grandfather and his compatriots set in motion the official recognition the of civilian coastwatchers in the Pacific, and military historian John Crawford.
To read Dame Cindy's speech, click here: Dame Cindy's Coastwatchers speech.
For more photos, click here: Coastwatchers media gallery.
