‘A real war job at last?’ Māori Women and The Armed Forces

Of the many books published about New Zealand’s military history there are none specifically dedicated to the story of Māori women who served in the armed forces during the Second World War. This presentation looks at the recruitment of Māori women into the auxiliary services, why they joined, and how their wartime service impacted on their post-war lives.

Successes and barriers for Māori women in the armed services
Of the many books published about New Zealand’s military history there are none specifically dedicated to the story of Māori women who served in the armed forces during the Second World War. They joined the Navy, Army, and Air Force, but their experiences in these services, including their successes and the barriers they faced, is little known or understood.

This presentation looks at the recruitment of Māori women into the auxiliary services, why they joined, and how their wartime service impacted on their post-war lives.

These free public history talks are a collaboration between the National Library of New Zealand and Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. They are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month March to November.

Talks in this series are recorded and available online

About the speaker
Angela Wanhalla (Kāi Tahu) is an associate professor in the History Programme, University of Otago. She teaches and writes about New Zealand history and is currently involved in a collaborative research project on the histories and legacies of the Māori home front during the Second World War.

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Image: Māori member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force playing the guitar during a musical hour. PR128a, New Zealand Air Force Museum, Christchurch.