[1] The New Zealand War Cabinet approved the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on 16 January 1941, in order to release more men for military service overseas.

She was then the dietitian in charge at Hobart General Hospital, and was apparently recommended for the post by Muriel Bell, the Director of Nutrition Research at the University of Otago Medical School.

[2] By January 1942 WAAFs were based at 11 air stations,[4] serving as cooks, mess-hands, drivers, clerks, equipment assistants, medical orderlies and shorthand typists.

A WAAF detachment also served on Norfolk Island, which at its largest numbered 94, mostly cipher officers, but also including medical orderlies, and a clerk-librarian.

Each WAAF completed a three-week course, learning drill and discipline, receiving lectures on regulations, service etiquette, and "such knowledge of Air Force Law as was necessary for an airwoman to know.

WAAFs were required to "be able to handle any type of craft, from small dinghies to a whaleboat, or a 25-knot motor launch, recognise running faults and do running repairs", they needed to learn navigation by chart and compass, as well as methods of salvaging marine craft, beaching them for repairs, laying and picking up temporary moorings for aircraft, sweeping for lost torpedoes.

The only WAAFs to fly were those learning to be radio operators at Wigram, who were taken on training flights in order to see at first hand the situation of aircrew with whom they would be exchanging signals.

[2] The majority of WAAFs were quickly demobilised after the end of the war in 1945, but a small number remained,[7] and under the terms of the Air Force Amendment Act 1947[8] became a permanent part of the peacetime establishment of the RNZAF.

In July 1977 the WRNZAF was dissolved and all members were integrated into the RNZAF,[7] gaining equal pay and employment rights, and access to more trades and training.