About Us
Godley Head, the northern headland to Lyttelton Harbour is nationally significant, being one of the most intact and extensive WWII coastal defence batteries left in New Zealand. It is administered by the Department of Conservation. In June 2004 it was registered as an Historic Area by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust/Pouhere Taonga.
The Godley Head Heritage Trust was formed and registered as a Charitable Trust in 2002 by a group of enthusiasts with a passion for the preservation of our military heritage and a special interest in Godley Head, following negotiation with the Department of Conservation. The respective roles of the Trust and the Department of Conservation were set out in a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in July 2003.
The aim of the Trust is to assist the Department in preserving and maintaining the historic assets at Godley Head and to provide advocacy and education about the area and its role in coastal defence. The Department has entered into a lease agreement with the Trust to allow the establishment of a Heritage Centre in the Regimental Headquarter/Quartermaster's Store building.
The Quartermaster's Store after asbestos removal and repainting in 2010
Trust member ( in red cap) taking a group of history teachers on a tour.
The Centre will focus on World War II coastal defence. Interactive displays with sound and lighting will give visitors an appreciation of why the battery was constructed and tell of the personnel stationed there. It will place the battery in its national and global context. A reference room will be available to researchers studying coastal defence. A radar hut has been constructed in association with the Heritage Centre and a Pillbox has been relocated from Mt Pleasant and sited to the North of the Heritage Centre. For a fuller description of our current projects see here.
You can also keep up to date with the current activities of the Trust on our Blog or our Facebook page.
Trust members are happy to take groups on guided tours of the buildings, including school groups. If you are interested in arranging a tour please contact us here
How to get there Contact us Join us Current projects
You can also keep up to date with the current activities of the Trust on our Blog or our Facebook page.
Trust members are happy to take groups on guided tours of the buildings, including school groups. If you are interested in arranging a tour please contact us here
How to get there Contact us Join us Current projects
