From 1878 the various field batteries were administratively grouped together as the New Zealand Regiment of Artillery Volunteers, and were designated alphabetically.

After that date guns and equipment were maintained at a high state of readiness, with battery personnel available at a few hours' notice.

Following large numbers volunteering for artillery, it was decided to raise the a brigade of three batteries, totalling twelve 18-pounders.

[6] A number of artillery regiments and batteries served with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific (2 NZEF IP), and 3rd Division.

[7] After the war ended, the Territorial Force was reconstituted in the late 1940s, and a number of field, mortar (5th Light Regiment RNZA), and coastal units were created.

The 16th Field Regiment subsequently provided close support to the British Commonwealth infantry and was later awarded the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951.

A small cadre of regulars remained, but as Henderson, Green, and Cook say, 'the coastal artillery had quietly died.

The three regiments survived on paper until 1967, 'each in its final years at an actual strength of a single warrant officer, the District Gunner, whose duties mainly involved taking care of the mobile 3.7-inch guns allocated for emergency harbour defences.

[2] The 16th Field Regiment RNZA was reformed at this time as part of the Regular Force Brigade Group.

In 1965 the United States government committed its 173rd Airborne Brigade to South Vietnam in a combat role.

The Australian infantry regiment and the New Zealand artillery battery served under operational control of the 173rd Airborne, from the Bien Hoa Air Base in Biên Hòa Province.

Sergeant Alastair John Sherwood Don and Bombardier Robert White of 161 Bty were the first New Zealand casualties of the Vietnam War when the front of their vehicle was blown up by a Vietcong command detonated mine during the initial road convoy.

[23] On operations New Zealand Forward Observers patrolled with U.S and Australian infantry to direct artillery fire when called upon.

In their first year, under U.S command, the battery took part in: In May 1966 it was decided to create an Australian task force with its own tactical area of responsibility (TAOR.)

"[27] As part of 1ATF, the New Zealand battery is remembered well for its role in the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, during which it played a key role in supporting D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment to hold off a regimental-sized Viet Cong force, despite being severely outnumbered.

It was the longest serving Allied unit in South Vietnam after the 173rd Airborne Brigade, having been continuously deployed for six years, ten months and 21 days.

[10] In 1997 the French Mistral short range air defence missile was acquired, providing an anti-aircraft capability for the first time since 1961.

The RNZA were distinguished by a blue and red puggaree around the traditional "Lemon Squeezer" hat of the New Zealand Army, until this headdress fell into abeyance in the late 1950s.