1st Division ( New Zealand ) The 1st Division was one of three New Zealand Army home defence divisions formed during World War II . The unit was established on 1 November 1941 and was responsible for protecting the northern region of New Zealand ' s North Island from invasion . The 1st Division was placed on alert during the early months of the Pacific War , but no threat developed . The division was greatly reduced in size during 1943 and was disbanded on 1 April 1944 . History . As part of the preparations for the possible outbreak of war in the Pacific , the defensive forces stationed in New Zealand were expanded in late 1941 . On 1 November three new brigade headquarters were raised ( taking the total in the New Zealand Army to seven ) , and three divisional headquarters were established to coordinate the units located in the Northern , Central and Southern Military Districts . The division in the Northern Military District was designated the Northern Division , and comprised the 1st and 12th Brigade Groups . The 1st Brigade Group had been formed prior to World War II , and the 12th Brigade Group was one of the new headquarters ; both these units were part of the Territorial Force and were manned by part - time reservists . The New Zealand Army was further expanded following the outbreak of the Pacific War . The Territorial Force was fully mobilised on 10 January 1942 , and reinforced by 7000 men who had originally enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for overseas service . The role of the Territorial Force was to counter any Japanese landings in New Zealand , and it was organised into both mobile and fortress units . The Home Guard would support the Territorial units in the event of an invasion . During early 1942 , camps were constructed for the 1st Brigade Group in South Auckland and the 12th Brigade Group at Kaikohe . The 1st Brigade subsequently moved to a camp near Warkworth . Later in the war a divisional camp was constructed near Whangarei . Major General Harold Eric Barrowclough assumed command of the Northern Division in April 1942 . Barrowclough had led the 6th Brigade during the Greek Campaign and subsequent fighting in North Africa , and had been posted back to New Zealand to command the forces in Fiji . However , on arrival in New Zealand he was assigned to command the Northern Division , to his displeasure . At about this time the three divisions stationed in New Zealand were transformed into mobile formations and renamed , and the Northern Division became the 1st Division ; the divisions in the Central and Southern Military District were redesignated the 4th and 5th Divisions respectively . As part of this change , the 1st Division ' s headquarters was expanded and relocated to the Northland Region . During mid - 1942 the Bay of Islands Fortress formed part of the 1st Division , and Barrowclough treated it as the division ' s third brigade , though the fortress units were static . In August Barrowclough was appointed to lead the 3rd New Zealand Division after its commander was killed in an accident . Until August and September , Territorial Force units across New Zealand were held at eight days notice to respond to an invasion , and defensive positions along the country ' s coastline were permanently manned . The forces stationed in New Zealand were considerably reduced as the threat of invasion passed . During early 1943 each of the three home defence divisions were cut from 22 , 358 to 11 , 530 men . The non - divisional units suffered even greater reductions . The New Zealand Government ordered a general stand - down of the defensive forces in the country on 28 June , which led to further reductions in the strength of units and a lower state of readiness . By the end of the year almost all of the Territorial Force personnel had been demobilised ( though they retained their uniforms and equipment ) , and only 44 soldiers were posted to the three divisional and seven brigade headquarters . The war situation continued to improve and the 1st Division , along with the other two divisions and almost all the remaining Territorial Force units , was disbanded on 1 April 1944 .