<P> The military history of New Zealand during World War II began when New Zealand entered the Second World War by declaring war on Nazi Germany with Great Britain . The state of war with Germany was officially held to have existed since 9: 30 pm on 3 September 1939 (local time), simultaneous with that of Britain, but in fact the declaration of war was not made until confirmation had been received from Britain that their ultimatum to Germany had expired . The group (led by Peter Fraser as Prime Minister Mickey Savage was terminally ill) listened to the shortwave radio in Carl Berendsen's room in Parliament Buildings but were not certain what Neville Chamberlain had said because of static on the short - wave radio, and a coded telegraph message from London did not arrive until just before midnight as the messenger boy with the telegram in London took shelter because of a (false) air - raid warning . The Cabinet acted after hearing the Admiralty's notification to the fleet that war had broken out . The next day Cabinet approved nearly 30 war regulations as laid down in the War Book, and after completing the formalities with the Executive Council the Governor - General, Lord Galway, issued the Proclamation of War, backdated to 9.30 pm on 3 September . </P> <P> Diplomatically, New Zealand had expressed vocal opposition to fascism in Europe and also to the appeasement of Fascist dictatorships, and national sentiment for a strong show of force met with general support . Economic and defensive considerations also motivated the New Zealand involvement--reliance on Britain meant that threats to Britain became threats to New Zealand too in terms of economic and defensive ties . </P> <P> There was also a strong sentimental link between the former British colony and the United Kingdom, with many seeing Britain as the "mother country" or "Home". The New Zealand Prime Minister of the time Michael Joseph Savage summed this up at the outbreak of war with a broadcast on 5 September (largely written by the Solicitor - General Henry Cornish) that became a popular cry in New Zealand during the war: </P> <P> It is with gratitude in the past, and with confidence in the future, that we range ourselves without fear beside Britain, where she goes, we go! Where she stands, we stand! </P>

Who was the leader of new zealand during ww2