New Zealand ran Western Samoa (the part without a good harbour) from when they (with escort from HMAS Australia) threw the German administration out in 1914 until 1962.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territory_of_Western_Samoa
My partner's grandfather was a German-Samoan .
Just New Zealand had personnel in Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji (5SQN RNZAF was formed in Fiji with Short Singapores flown from Singapore) pre-Pearl Harbour even. Australia deals with the rest of the Pacific time zones, except the bit between Canada and Hawaii (being regularly crossed by...
I wonder how long the easier to remove items last when the lack of climb rate starts to tell. OTL they stripped guns, ammo load etc to give their clapped out engines a chance in an environment with worse early warning.
The fact that there are two/three rather makes the point!
I don't think Park is diplomatic enough to wrangle NZ G-G, but Auckland International might get named for him (he pushed for its development).
But there were no design compromises in using MPAs to drop stuff off while they are there. I saw a bunch of formal silverware in a P-3 once - if you are going there anyway and you can pass it out the door, why not?
There was a lot of fear in the 1930's of hiding bombers as transports.
FAA used radar Swordfish(?) to drop flares "behind" the target in the Med I think, not sure of timing. Need to practice with the torp carriers, which I'm sure the practical Kiwis at the top and bottom of the chain of command (many Vilde pilots were Kiwis as they did their training in NZ on them)...
Some explanation in this scanned wartime booklet(?). Neat forum discussion on Vildebeest, Swordfish, dive-bombing etc too. Dave H and James (JDK) are mates of mine, and top blokes.
https://www.key.aero/comment/944827#comment-944827
We have Vildebeests (quickly decided that they were only usable at night), not Swordfish. But take a look!
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/109802597-new-bombers-new-zealand
The RNZAF had a pre-war display team.
https://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_Display_Teams_Misc.htm