Bomb squad to assess suspected WWI mine

A defence force bomb squad is on its way to a remote West Coast beach to assess what is believed to be a World War I sea mine.

Defence force spokesman Zac Prendergast said the mine was thought to be a Hertz Horn sea mine and could have been lain by the German raider SMS Wolf, which operated off the coast of New Zealand around 1917.

Mr Prendergast said the SMS Wolf laid several mines around Farewell Spit and two or three ships were sunk.

The bomb squad, along with police and Department of Conservation staff have boarded a helicopter to get to the beach near Karamea, where the mine was washed up.

Mr Prendergast said the mine was found about 20m from the high tide mark and was likely to have been washed up a while ago.

He said the condition of the mine and whether it was possible to disarm or destroy was not known.

Navy Museum collections manager Craig Collier said the museum could be interested in the mine but would need to see it to make an assessment on its condition and relevance to the collection.

- NZHERALD STAFF