Waikato Militia (1st Regiment), New Zealand

Four regiments of Waikato Militia military settlers were raised to help keep order in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty after the 1860s wars. Many men were recruited in Australia. Their service entitled them to land grants but much of the land surveyed was unsuitable for farming and was deserted or bought up by speculators. See: http://archives.govt.nz/research/guides/war

The 1st Regiment of Waikato Militia were given their sections of land at Tauranga.

The Tauranga 1st Waikato Militia New Zealand Wars memorial erected in 1909 at Tauranga Mission Cemetery commemorates the 25 colonial and imperial soldiers and sailors from the 68th Regiment, 1st Waikato Militia and Naval Brigade who died in 1864 at Gate Pā and Te Ranga and in 1867 during the Tauranga Bush Campaign. See: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/battles_of_gate_pa_and_te_ranga_1864/to...