Military history of New Zealand
| History of New Zealand |
|---|
| Timeline |
| General topics |
| Prior to 1800 |
| 19th century |
| Stages of independence |
| World Wars |
| Post-war and contemporary history |
|
| See also |
| New Zealand portal |
The military history of New Zealand is an aspect of the history of New Zealand that spans several hundred years. Before European contact, Māori iwi (tribes) engaged in intertribal warfare as the region reached its carrying capacity. The early 19th century saw the outbreak of the Musket Wars, where the introduction of firearms intensified Māori conflicts and led to significant shifts in tribal dynamics and territorial boundaries.
The mid-19th century was marked by the New Zealand Wars, a series of confrontations from 1845 to 1872 between various Māori groups and British colonial forces, along with their Māori allies, primarily over land disputes and sovereignty. These wars resulted in substantial land confiscations from Māori communities.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, New Zealand contributed troops to British military campaigns during the Second Boer War and both World Wars. During the Cold War, it participated in multilateral and U.S.-led military operations in southeast Asia in support of the Western Bloc, while also engaging in peacekeeping missions. New Zealand continued to participate in multilateral military coalitions in the 21st century, particularly in the Greater Middle East.