Naval Communications Station Irirangi facts for kids

The Naval Communications Station Irirangi was a special place for the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was located near Waiouru in the middle of New Zealand's North Island. This station played a very important role, especially during World War II, by handling secret messages.

HMNZS Irirangi: New Zealand's Secret Listener

What Was HMNZS Irirangi?

HMNZS Irirangi was a communications station for the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was built in 1943 during World War II. Its first name was the Waiouru W/T (Wireless Telegraph) Station. W/T stood for Wireless Telegraph, which was a way to send messages using radio waves. It was placed far from the sea, deep in the North Island of New Zealand. This location helped keep it safe and hidden.

A Busy Time During World War II

The station officially opened in July 1943. During the busiest time of World War II, about 150 people worked there. More than eighty of these workers were women. Many of them were part of the Women's Royal New Zealand Naval Service.

These dedicated people handled huge amounts of secret information every day. They processed tens of thousands of "code groups." Most of these messages were for the British Pacific Fleet. This fleet was fighting in waters near Japan. Workers at Irirangi managed many communication lines at once. They used special land lines to send signals to the Navy Office in Wellington.

The Name "Irirangi"

In 1951, the station was given a new name: HMNZS Irirangi. The name "Irirangi" comes from the Māori language. It means "spirit voice." This name fits well for a place that handled so many important messages.

Modernizing the Station

In the late 1980s, the equipment at Irirangi was updated. This made the station more modern and efficient. By October 1991, a study looked into controlling the station from far away. The idea was to manage everything from the Devonport Naval Base. The Chief of Naval Staff then decided that this remote control plan should happen quickly.

What Happened Next?

HMNZS Irirangi stopped operating on May 20, 1993. Its work was taken over by other groups. The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) now handles signals intelligence. They have a radio station at Tangimoana. They also have a satellite station at Waihopai. A small group of Navy staff still does maintenance work. They make sure that the important functions once done by Irirangi continue.