| Brief Description |
This New Zealand Native Contingent badge was worn by the Maori Contingents until the introduction of the New Zealand Pioneers badge. In 1914 two Maori Companies were formed, A Company from North Auckland, West Coast North Island and South Island; B Company was formed of Maori from the Centre and East Coast of the North Island. Though their formal name was the New Zealand Native Contingent, they were informally called the Maori Contingent. They left New Zealand in February 1915 and took part in the Gallipoli Campaign from July 1915.
After Gallipoli the NZNC was reformed into the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion on 20 February 1916 and served in France. Initially the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion had two Maori Companies but from September 1917 became an all-Maori unit and was renamed as the New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion. The battalion was finally disbanded in March 1919.
The oval molded brass badge has a crown in the centre and two traditional Maori weapons, a taiaha and a tewhatewha, crossed through the crown. The motto "TE HOKO WHITU A TU" refers to the twice seventy (140) warriors of Tumatauenga, God of War.
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