Stony Batter
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- for the Dublin suburb, see Stoneybatter
Stony Batter is the generic name for a privately-owned farm and extensive vineyards at the northeastern end of Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Within the farm is a 50 acre (200,000 m²) scenic reserve owned by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). It serves double-duty as a historical and nature reserve, containing unusual rock formations, three significant bush blocks and three concrete gun emplacements.
The guns linked with over one kilometer of tunnels to form a World War II coastal defence gun battery, installed to ensure safe anchorage in Auckland Harbour for Allied shipping. The battery was started in 1942 but the first gun was not test fired until 1946 (after the war had ended); the order for the third gun was cancelled before it was exported from England.
It is very similar in design to Wrights Hill Fortress in Wellington and suffered from the same political procrastination and bungling, resulting in delays and the final redundancy of both installations.
The battery is now in the hands of a preservation society, which keeps it open for the public under a concession from DOC.
