Naval Communications Station Irirangi
Encyclopedia
The Naval Communications Station Irirangi of the Royal New Zealand Navy
, which is 2 km north of Waiouru
and near the Waiouru Army Camp
, was established in WWII (1943) as the Waiouru W/T (Wireless Telegraph) Station. Its location, in the middle of the North Island, put it far away from the sea.
The station was commissioned in July 1943, and at the peak period of the war had an establishment of about 150 personnel, of whom more than eighty were women. Tens of thousands of code groups were handled each day, mostly for the British Pacific Fleet
in Japanese waters. A dozen or more circuits were manned simultaneously and teleprinter land lines fed the signals to the Navy Office in Wellington.
In 1951 the station was designated HMNZS Irirangi, which means spirit voice in Maori.
In the late 1980s the equipment was modernised, and in October 1991 a feasibility study into the remote controlling of all facilities from the Devonport Naval Base
was completed. The Chief of Naval Staff issued a directive that "the remoting of Irirangi is to be implemented forthwith."
Irirangi was decommissioned on 20 May 1993. The Government Communications Security Bureau
(GCSB) is now responsible for signals intelligence, with a radio communications intercept station at Tangimoana
and a satellite communications intercept station at Waihopai
. The previous functions of Irirangi are now carried out by a small contingent of Naval maintenance staff.
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
, which is 2 km north of Waiouru
Waiouru
Waiouru is a small town in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, 25 kilometres south-east of Mount Ruapehu, and in the Ruapehu District....
and near the Waiouru Army Camp
Waiouru Army Camp
The Waiouru Army Camp is a base of the New Zealand Army in the central North Island near Waiouru.Waiouru is often referred to by soldiers as the home of the army as it houses the army marae and is the base where all New Zealand Army soldiers complete their initial basic training called All Arms...
, was established in WWII (1943) as the Waiouru W/T (Wireless Telegraph) Station. Its location, in the middle of the North Island, put it far away from the sea.
The station was commissioned in July 1943, and at the peak period of the war had an establishment of about 150 personnel, of whom more than eighty were women. Tens of thousands of code groups were handled each day, mostly for the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
in Japanese waters. A dozen or more circuits were manned simultaneously and teleprinter land lines fed the signals to the Navy Office in Wellington.
In 1951 the station was designated HMNZS Irirangi, which means spirit voice in Maori.
In the late 1980s the equipment was modernised, and in October 1991 a feasibility study into the remote controlling of all facilities from the Devonport Naval Base
Devonport Naval Base
Devonport Naval Base is the home of the Royal New Zealand Navy, located at Devonport, New Zealand on Auckland's North Shore. It is currently the only base of the navy that operates ships, and was a navy base from as far back as 1841...
was completed. The Chief of Naval Staff issued a directive that "the remoting of Irirangi is to be implemented forthwith."
Irirangi was decommissioned on 20 May 1993. The Government Communications Security Bureau
Government Communications Security Bureau
The Government Communications Security Bureau is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.The mission statement is given as:To contribute to the national security of New Zealand through:...
(GCSB) is now responsible for signals intelligence, with a radio communications intercept station at Tangimoana
GCSB Tangimoana
The New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a radio communications interception facility at Tangimoana, 30 kilometres west of Palmerston North, in New Zealand....
and a satellite communications intercept station at Waihopai
GCSB Waihopai
New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a satellite communications monitoring facility in the Waihopai Valley...
. The previous functions of Irirangi are now carried out by a small contingent of Naval maintenance staff.