Uncovering a Naval Legacy in Motukauatirahi - Cass Bay
Source: V. C. Browne & Son – Cass Bay, 1962, 6808-6823.
Uncovering a Naval legacy in Motukauatirahi - Cass Bay
Tucked away in Motukauatirahi-Cass Bay within Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour, HMNZS Steadfast isn’t a well-known site, but it should be.
As the South Island’s former Royal Navy armament depot, this landscape holds deep connections to New Zealand’s World War II history and wider military defence networks.
I teamed up with heritage architects to uncover the site's story, piece together its significance, and find creative ways to protect its heritage – all while weaving it into a landscape plan that had recently been drawn up for the site.
Ensuring Heritage is Part of the Plan
While the landscape plan addressed many aspects of the site, without a full understanding of its heritage significance, there was a risk of losing key elements that tell the story of this place. Our task was to research and identify what made the landscape significant, and how best to integrate these values into future management of the place.
A Landscape Shaped by Defence and Culture
Our assessment took a broad view, considering not just the built structures but also the natural landscape, community and cultural connections. We examined the historic role of the site as a naval ammunition depot, its strategic placement within Lyttelton Harbour, and its relationship to the cultural landscape, an area of deep significance to tangata whenua.
Discovering the Site’s Defining Features
The site’s significance lies in its layered history, from its role in mid-20th-century defence to its striking natural setting. Landscape elements that tell the story of this place include:
a collection of ten magazine stores embedded into the hillside, camouflaged for strategic purposes.
a historic military road and land bridges connecting the ammunition stores.
a perimeter concrete post and barbed wire fence marking its defensive past.
landscaped areas associated with naval activity, including stone retaining walls, rock terracing, and a parade ground.
the landscape’s cultural significance, with local place names carrying whakapapa (genealogical connections) and historic narratives.
Conservation Meets Contemporary Use
By integrating these findings into conservation policies, we provided clear guidance on how to protect and manage the site’s Pākehā European heritage fabric. The policies respect the historic identity of HMNZS Steadfast while allowing it to adapt for contemporary use by the local community and TS Steadfast naval cadets.
The work also aligns with ecological restoration efforts, including a stream planting programme that improves site biodiversity and reduces sedimentation into the harbour.
Keeping HMNZS Steadfast’s Story Alive
HMNZS Steadfast is more than just a collection of military buildings. It’s testament to New Zealand’s wartime history, a landscape shaped by strategic defence needs, and a place of deep cultural connection.
Recognising and preserving these values ensures that this hidden site continues to tell its story for generations to come.
Source: HMNZS Steadfast Archives.
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