Pioneer Battalion

Captain Harding Waipuke Leaf was killed in action in Crete 1941, two of his descendants talk about his extraordinary service in both World War I and World War II. Dr Monty Soutar's book about the… Audio, Gallery

Hui Aroha was the name of the large scale event held in Gisborne on April 8th 1919 to welcome back men who had served in the Pioneer Battalion during the First World War. The East cost almost doubled… Audio

At the beginning of the First World War maori involvement in the NZ military forces was limited and there was robust debate about whether maori should serve in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.  Audio, Gallery