On 12 June 1942 the first US Army soldiers and nurses arrived in Auckland harbour on five transport ships.

This arrival became affectionately known as the ‘American Invasion’ as the servicemen and women came here to strengthen New Zealand’s defences on the outbreak of the Pacific war and to assist in case of a Japanese attack. The soldiers were stationed in camps outside Auckland and Wellington and often came into the cities during their free time.

This kitschy painting by Dean Cornwell may be politically incorrect but it shows how American culture extended itself into New Zealand life through these soldiers. They bought American products like Coca-Cola, hamburgers, jazz music, cigarettes and whiskey into mainstream New Zealand culture and provided a mostly welcome distraction to the anxieties brought on by nearly three years of war.

It was not always an easy meeting of cultures however, many of the Americans were from southern states where ‘Jim Crow’ laws were in effect and they brought their prejudice with them. Many Māori, with the efforts of Princess Te Puea in particular, reached out and invited them to visit the Tūrangawaewae Marae to meet Māori people and learn something of their culture. This wise action was successful and helped to foster understanding between the groups.

Kiwi and American culture was sufficiently different enough to be fascinating to both visitors and hosts. Many US soldiers took the opportunity to learn about New Zealand while they were here. A popular way to do this was them to spend a weekend staying with a New Zealand family, this was encouraged by the military as it was seen a wholesome use of the soldiers’ free time- rather than the frowned upon activities of drinking and visiting brothels. New Zealanders were keen to invite the soldiers over too as many families had sons and husbands overseas and wanted to reciprocate the hospitality their soldiers benefitted from.

American forces gradually left New Zealand with the 43rd division to be the last to leave in 1944. The lasting impact they left in our culture is apparent even today. There are many monuments to American soldiers who fell in defence of the Pacific dotted around the country and many older New Zealanders remember the ‘American Invasion’ with amusement. Thanks to this invasion, coffee shops, hotdogs, swingbands, a plethora of Hollywood movies and new sports became ingrained in a new generation of Kiwi culture.

Archives New Zealand Reference: AAAC 898 Box 155 NCWA Q392 <a href="https://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22499656" rel="noreferrer nofollow">archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22499656</a> <a href="http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/1089" rel="noreferrer nofollow">warart.archives.govt.nz/node/1089</a>

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