Richard Hill & Steven Loveridge: Vignettes from Wellington’s Secret History

Spies, seditionists, and state surveillance

In 1900, a handful of New Zealand police detectives watched out for spies, seditionists and others who might pose a threat to state and society. The Police Force remained the primary instrument of such human intelligence in New Zealand until 1956 when, a decade into the Cold War, a dedicated Security Service was created.

In this talk Richard Hill and Steven Loveridge explored some of their experiences in researching the elusive and murky history of security intelligence for their recently published book Secret History: State Surveillance in New Zealand, 1900–1956 (Auckland University Press, 2023). They drew attention to some sites around Wellington linked to local spycraft — including some close to the Turnbull Library.

The first of two volumes chronicling the history of state surveillance in New Zealand, Secret History opens up the ‘secret world’ of security intelligence through to 1956.

Richard Hill has written four books on the history of policing in New Zealand and two on Crown–Māori relations in the 20th century. He is a Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, and Emeritus Professor at the Stout Research Centre for NZ Studies where, among other things, he runs the Security and Surveillance Project.

Steven Loveridge is an historian whose research focuses upon governance, security intelligence, and war and society. Besides Secret History, his recent publications include the co-authored The Home Front, an authoritative examination of New Zealand’s society during World War I; and content within New Zealand’s Foreign Service and Histories of Hate.