From 1941 to 1945, the islands hosted a New Zealand meteorological station as part of a World War II coastwatching programme staffed by scientist volunteers and known for security reasons as the "Cape Expedition". Along with their other duties the Cape Expedition staff undertook biodiversity research and collected scientific specimens. The staff of the Cape Expedition included Robert Falla, later an eminent New Zealand scientist. The 1972–1973 Auckland Islands Expedition spent several months studying the fauna and flora of the Auckland Islands.
From 1941 to 1945, the islands hosted a New Zealand meteorological station as part of a World War II coastwatching programme staffed by scientist volunteers and known for security reasons as the "Cape Expedition". Along with their other duties the Cape Expedition staff undertook biodiversity research and collected scientific specimens. The staff of the Cape Expedition included Robert Falla later an eminent New Zealand scientist. The 1972–1973 Auckland Islands Expedition spent several months studying the fauna and flora of the Auckland Islands.