[1] A total of ten contingents departed for South Africa between October 1899 and April 1902.

The volunteers of the first two contingents were mainly members of New Zealand's existing permanent or voluntary forces and were expected to supply their own equipment and horses.

[2][4] These two Contingents were also largely paid for through local fundraising rather than central government,[2] and together they became known as the Rough Riders.

[2] The Boer War was the first overseas conflict to involve New Zealand troops, and was the first conflict the nation was involved in since the New Zealand Wars had ceased in the early 1870s.

[5] Over 6500 New Zealand soldiers served in South Africa with the units suffering 230 casualties – most of those from either accident or disease.