A relic of a more dangerous past, this mine is right outside the entrance to the Naval Base, so take care not to set it off and alert the guards!
This is a British Mk XIV mine, which was manufactured in Aucstralia in 1942. It is the same as a number of mines that were laid by HMAS BUNGAREE in the approach to Auckland between Tiri Tiri Matangi Island and the Noises during WW II. There were about 400 mines in this field and it was code named NED. This was a defensive measure to safeguard our harbour from enemy ships and submarines. The field was swept in 1944 when the threat of invasion to this court had diminished.
The mine was stored first at the Whangaparoa Naval Armament Depot and then at Kauri Point before being gifted to the North Shore City Council in 1998 by the Royal New Zealand Navy. The mine underwent a major refurbishment in the weapons shop of the Fleet Maintenance Group prior to being installed at this sit in September 1999.