The battalion was formed on 29 December 1941 at Papakura,[Note 1] under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Barry,[2] in response to Japan's entry into the war following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the invasion of Malaya.

[3] With the possibility of a Japanese advance south through the Pacific, the New Zealand government decided to raise a force of three infantry battalions to bolster the garrison in Fiji.

[6] During their stay on Fiji, the 36th Battalion was employed in defensive duties, constructing fixed positions at key locations as the island was prepared for a possible Japanese invasion.

[8] In early March, the battalion began nightly alerts and training exercises were undertaken as the threat of Japanese invasion increased.

Supported by a number of attached artillery and engineer units, the 36th Battalion formed the core of N Force, tasked with the responsibility of defending the island.

[18] An advanced party set up camp near the Ouenghi River and after the main body of the battalion arrived on 7 April they began to receive new equipment and stores and undertook jungle warfare training and a series of exercises in preparation for employment on future operations.

[22] The task of packing stores and equipment then began and on 2 September the battalion boarded the American transport President Jackson at Noumea, bound for the New Hebrides.

[23] They arrived at Vila Harbour on 5 September and over the course of a week, they conducted a number of amphibious exercises before proceeding on to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

[27] In mid-October training came to an end and the battalion prepared to move again as orders were received that the 8th Brigade was finally to be committed to a combat role.

[34] The advance from the beachhead proved slow in the thick undergrowth, nevertheless 'A' Company managed to locate the Japanese headquarters about 500 yards (460 m) west of the Saveke River,[36] and while the defenders' fire was suppressed with mortars, the company commander, Captain K. E. Loudon, led the New Zealanders across the river and undertook a series of flanking moves in order to surround, and subsequently capture, the Japanese position.

[37] Following this a perimeter was established about 250 yards (230 m) from the beach and the Landing Ship Tank (LST) vessels arrived to begin unloading more stores and equipment.

While this occurred, small details of New Zealanders set about the task of rooting out individual Japanese soldiers that had remained hidden during the initial advance inland.

By 2:30 pm they had advanced 600 yards (550 m) north of Falamai and the decision was made to establish the battalion perimeter, set up headquarters and send out patrols.

During the night, the battalion's position was attacked from the air and by indirect fire, while small parties of Japanese attempted to infiltrate the perimeter in an effort to reach the food stores that they had left behind during their retreat inland.

There were no clashes during this time, however, and by the end of October, the battalion received orders to prevent the Japanese from attempting to effect an evacuation and to begin deliberate search operations.

[46] After continuing on to Soanatalu and crossing the Besara River, the patrol's local guide found signs of recent Japanese presence and later a raft was located, and was later destroyed.

[52] Throughout December and into January 1944, the only contact with the Japanese came in the form of air raids over the islands, and the men were kept busy undertaking labouring tasks in between regular patrolling operations and training sessions.

[53] In late February the air raids stopped and as the main fighting bypassed the Treasuries the 8th Brigade was relegated to relatively routine tasks.