The volunteer corps also provided men to the New Zealand contingents sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War and in 1911 became the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles).

However a more senior chief, Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitāke, opposed the purchase and the disagreement led to the outbreak of the First Taranaki War in March 1860.

The 103 strong company of volunteers, along with men from the militia, 65th Regiment and HMS Niger became engaged with Māori near the Waireka stream.

The volunteers set up a defensive position around a farm house below Kaipopo Pā, but late in the day became isolated when the 65th withdrew (as they were under orders to retire to New Plymouth before nightfall).

[11] In spring a war party of Ngāti Hauā, led by Wetini Taiporutu, arrived in Taranaki and crossed the Waitara on 5 November.

Major General Thomas Pratt (commander of the British forces in Australasia) immediately issued orders to repulse the Māori.

A large British contingent included 90 Taranaki Volunteers, attacked Wetini's force at an old, practically unfortified pā site at Māhoetahi.

Unlike the first war, the Volunteers received permission from the new British commander, Colonel Henry Warre, to operate outside the town limits.

[13] The Bushrangers patrolled the area surrounding New Plymouth, deterring Māori raiding parties and defending the farmsteads.

In October a group of men from the 57th Regiment were ambushed by Māori at Allen's hill and the volunteers came to their aid.

Māori losses are unknown, but the 57th lost one man killed and 8 wounded,[15] while 2 men received the Victoria Cross.

[17] The Māori withdrew and only suffered only one man killed, while the pā was captured without loss to the British (although two men of the 57th Regiment were wounded when pulling down the palisade).

Peace was declared by Governor George Grey on 25 October 1864, however the conflict would continue for some time and the bushrangers would skirmish with Māori at Warea in June 1865.

The corps was expanded to three companies in 1879 and mobilized in 1881, when the government sent more than 1500 troops, including 51 men of the Taranaki Volunteers, to Parihaka.

The Māori pacifist leader, Te Whiti o Rongomai, had been leading a resistance campaign against the New Zealand government since its occupation of land in the Waimate Plains in 1879.

[Note 1][26] During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), the New Zealand Government sent a number of mounted rifles contingents to fight in South Africa.

[31] Lieutenant Colonel William Malone, who had become the unit commander in 1910, introduced the Lemon Squeezer as the regimental hat in 1911.

[33] At the outbreak of war in August 1914, the decision was made to form a New Zealand infantry brigade of four battalions from the existing territorial regiments.

[34] One member of the 11th (Taranaki Rifles) Regiment, Sergeant John Grant, won the Victoria Cross during the First World War.

Grant, who was serving with 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment at the time, received the award for clearing a number of machine gun posts during the Second Battle of Bapaume.

[43][44][45] These battalions formed part of the 2nd New Zealand Division and saw action in Greece, Crete, North Africa, Tunisia and Italy.

The new colours were emblazoned with a further ten battle honours from the First World War[57] and were laid up in St Mary's Church on 10 December 1972.