On 2 August 1957, official authority was granted to raise and train the first "regular" infantry battalion in New Zealand history.

The 1st Battalion, The New Zealand Regiment was deployed to Malaya from October 1957 as part the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group.

[8] On 1 April 1964, all units of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Corps were reorganised into the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and re-designated as;[9] During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation which began on 20 January 1963, 1 RNZIR would be committed to the conflict from September 1964, seeing service in Mainland Malaysia and Borneo.

New Zealand Assault pioneer and Mortar teams accompanied subsequent rotations.

Additionally, a troop of New Zealand Special Air Service arrived in 1968 and conducted operations with the Australian SAS.

RNZIR personnel served in many different roles at the 1ATF base and at the New Zealand Headquarters in Saigon.

Having been based at Terendak Camp since 1961, 1 RNZIR relocated to Nee Soon Barracks on Singapore in December 1969.

In 1971 the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group would be disestablished and 1 RNZIR would come under the command of ANZUK Force.

[7] Alongside troops from Queens Alexandra's Mounted Rifles (QAMR), 1 RNZIR and 2/ RNZIR would both contribute to the Mechanized Infantry Company Group that formed New Zealand's commitment to the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).

A battalion typically totals around 400 to 500 soldiers depending on actual manning levels.