The Mystery of North Head
Riddled with old military tunnels, Auckland’s North Head has long been the focus of speculation. In this documentary, Philip Alpers explores theories that a hidden tunnel network contains tonnes of decaying ammunition — and two old Boeing aeroplanes. Archaeologist Dave Veart sets about finding the truth. The man responsible for closing the tunnels says there’s nothing there; others recall seeing a plane. Filmmaker John Earnshaw is convinced of its existence. Earnshaw would spend years battling the crown in court, over claims of a breached agreement to search North Head. There are 5 parts to his video. Thanks again the NZonScreen.
I remember doing rounds at night at North Head. Someone wrote a some stories about ghosts in the tunnels, and that you could hear the sound of men digging the tunnels and chains rattling. We had to sign a sheet at the transmitter door, one at the tunnel entrances and another at the comms school. You couldn’t fake doing the rounds as OOD Philomel would do them as well. They were done once each First, Middle and Morning watches. When the wind was blowing through the aerials you could hear a wailing sound. I used to go check the locks at the tunnels singing to myself, so if there was a noise I wouldn’t hear it. Always had goose bumps running up my spine, trying my best not to run. Forgot who wrote the story, maybe someone will remember its origins.
One thing stood out is that if you are going to put an entrance to a series of under ground bunkers you don’t put it in a 5 inch gun implacement facing the enemy – you stick it on the harbour side with good access from roads etc not that I believe all that stuff anyway. It indicated that the airplanes were the first ones Boeing made Model 1 – which is true but they were not the first “Model 1’s” which was the impression I got. Did have a ring from someone once asking if I knew anything but he lost interest when I said I did not believe all the ammo and plane stories
I remember being on a course in the mid sixties and getting into one of the bunkers on the north side of North Head and finding the barrel of a Bofor and further on down the tunnel a huge gallery containing four to six very large desiel motors. All these motors were in pristine condition and it was obvious they were being serviced, with oil still in the drip feeders. Must have been the power source for everything at North Head, our power source was cigarette lighters. Some weeks later we were questioned as to whether or not we knew anything about a possible breach of the tunnels we of course knew nothing, I think we entered after the breach was made.
I also remember seeing the diesel engines in the 60’s. If I remember correctly they were down on the side of North Head below where the gun still is to this day. I went there last year and the shed is now empty.
Hello Frank, The Diesel engines I was talking about were huge ‘Greys’ or ‘Fodens’ the type you would pull out of a submarine, they were not in a shed they were deep into the hillside well and truely covered in concrete and soil. I cannot remember any sheds unless your talking about the ones on the waterfront? If by chance they did pull these engines out they would have needed a wharehouse to store them in.
Regards Alan Dowie
I was stationed at ZLE in the early 60’s and explored the tunnels that were not blocked by locked gates (why were they locked if there was nothing there, unless it was for safety reasons?). Never heard any stories about stored ammo or aircraft. Halfway up the road to North Head there was a commercial mushroom farm in some tunnels. The gun emplacements and other parts of the hill below the Navy security fence were well frequented by civilians especially on weekends so I’m pretty sure all the existing tunnels would have been well explored. If there are entrances to secret underground spaces, they are well hidden. If the alleged aircraft were boxed up and then reassembled inside the hill, the boxes wouldn’t have been able to get through the known tunnels and would have required a large hillside excavation later covered in. That’s my thoughts on the mystery, and may it long continue.