The Royal New Zealand Air Force had 56 Catalina's in all between 1943 and 1953. They were registered NZ4001-4056 inclusive and included 22 PBY-5s (mostly MklVAs) with the remainder being PB2B-1 s. All were flying boats, with no amphibian models being taken on charge. The aircraft were operated initially by No 6 Squadron (the squadron code used was XX-) from Lauthala Bay, Fiji, before moving to Havalo Bay, on Florida Island near Guadalcanal. No 3 Operational Training Unit was at Lauthala Bay and used the squadron code GF-). A second squadron, No 5 Sqn (code was PA-), then formed and moved to the US base at Segond Channel, on Espirito Santo. Both squadrons were used on long-range maritime patrol and shipping escort patrols, with "Dumbo" air sea rescue and transport as secondary roles. Seven Catalina's were written off in wartime accidents.

After the war only half a dozen or so of the best aircraft were maintained in service with

No 5 Sqn (squadron code became KN-) and fitted with the latest search radar which had

a large radome behind the cockpit. The remainder were put into storage.

In the post-war period the aircraft were used for maritime surveillance and search and rescue missions including a number of "mercy missions" to isolated Pacific islands.

Eight Catalina's were written off in the post-war period. Two  PB2B-ls were loaned to Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) for short periods after the war, one  (which became ZK-AMI) as a crew trainer, the other (ZK-AMP) to survey a flying boat route from Fiji to Tahiti, later to become known as "The Coral Route" and used by TEAL's Solent flying boats.

These two aircraft were eventually returned to the RNZAF before being scrapped. All Catalina's were eventually scrapped, 28 in August 1952 and the last six in December 1955.

Catalina's in retirement: NZ4044 (Top) and NZ-4053 (below). The photos were taken at Hobsonville in late 1953, at the time the aircraft were still making sporadic flights.