u/Aethelredditor

Image Source: Bush scene, with bush tramway line. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-2036-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23032257

Image Source: Q class steam train locomotive, unidentified railway yards. Williams, Edgar Richard, 1891-1983: Photographs and papers. Ref: 1/2-140192-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23182274

The New Zealand Permanent Air Force, which soon became the Royal New Zealand Air Force, acquired twelve Vickers Vildebeests in 1935. Purchased to fulfill a coastal defence and reconnaissance role, they also served as advanced trainers and as aerial photography platforms. A further 27 were received from Royal Air Force stocks in 1940. By 1943 the last were being withdrawn, aircraft like the Hudson and Ventura having supplanted them in their original role.

Image Source: Vickers Vilderbeest biplane NZ102, Hobsonville, Royal New Zealand Air Force air sales. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-21578-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23226281

Image Source: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004. Camouflaged tank moving forward in readiness for armoured assault on Cassino, Italy, World War II - Photograph taken by George Kaye. New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency. Ref: DA-05332-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22766236

Image Source: New Zealand troops in the transit area between Canea and Galatos, Crete, upon their arrival from mainland Greece. New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency. Ref: DA-01110-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22437209

As a member of the Commonwealth, New Zealand was one of several countries to trial the X8 rifle which would evolve into the L1A1 SLR. Pictured here are New Zealand soldiers with the X8E2/FN Type B, which had the same unmagnified optic as the EM-2. Often described as the 'FN .30', it was first demonstrated at Waiouru in May 1955 alongside the BAT recoilless rifle and a rocket launcher for the Energa grenade. Here's an article from the New Zealand Press Association published in several newspapers at the time:

>The accuracy of the FN rifle and its rapid rate of fire power, as compared with the old Lee-Enfield, was demonstrated this morning at Waiouru Military Camp before Major-General W. G. Gentry, G.O.C., N.Z. Division, Brigadier M. C. Fairbrother, O.C. 2nd Infantry Brigade, and Colonel G. P. Sanders Camp Commandant. Staff and students of the School of Infantry and the Regular Force Depot carried out the demonstration under the command of Major F. Rennie, who will be officer commanding the New Zealand force going to Malaya.

>The FN is an automatic self-loading rife and is gas operated but can be manipulated to single fire. Used automatically, it is capable of a fire power over 90 per cent. accurate of 650 to 700 rounds a minute. Under single fire riflemen, after only two periods of training, can fire 60 round a minute as against the 25 maximum with the bolt-type rifle.

>Five thousand of these rifles of Belgian manufacture are under test throughout the Commonwealth and 20 are in use in New Zealand. Under demonstration, the speed and accuracy of the FN in competition with the old bolt rifle were seen to great advantage. Using an optical sight, likely to become standard equipment, firing on the target is greatly simplified. The cartridge is rimless and the rifle has been adopted by the nations subscribing to NATO.

>When used for for drill it streamlines the old parade-ground techniques.

>Also demonstrated was the BAT anti-tank gun fired for the second time in New Zealand, the first being a practice test. The BAT can halt the heaviest tank known, not by penetrations, but by a squash head that sticks to the side of the tank. It has no recoil.

>The third weapon demonstrated was the 3.5 rocket launcher for the Energa grenade. This is a tube some--what similar to the Bazooka. Its effective range is 960 yards and it can be fired from any position. Its visual fire range is 150 yards firing a rocket weighing 81b.

Image Source: Firing of Belgium rifle. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1955/1446-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23229676

Image Source: Sybil Lupp. New Zealand Free Lance : Photographic prints and negatives. Ref: 1/2-101468-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23045314

Image Source: Mounted Special Constables during the 1913 waterfront strike, Wellington. Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-049059-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22325661

Source: canterburystories.nz