Māori Battalion

The 28th (Māori) Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion (Māori: Te Hokowhitu a Tū), was a light infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War.

The battalion was formed following pressure on the Labour government from some Māori Members of Parliament (MPs) and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting to see a full Māori unit raised for service overseas. The Māori Pioneer Battalion was formed to serve in the First World War (1914–1918). Māori wanted the formation of a distinct military unit in order to raise their profile, and to serve alongside their European compatriots as part of the British Empire. It also offered Māori the opportunity to prove themselves and potentially secure autonomy.

In 1940, the 28th Maori Battalion was established as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF). The battalion was attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division and moved between the division's three infantry brigades. The battalion fought during the Greek, North African and Italian campaigns, earning a formidable reputation as a fighting force which both Allied and German commanders have acknowledged. It became the most-decorated New Zealand battalion during the war. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion contributed a contingent of personnel to serve in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force before being disbanded in January 1946.