Uniforms of the New Zealand Army

[1] In the later stages of the Land Wars the government passed the Armed Constabulary Act of 1867, replacing both the British regular and local militia regiments.

Members wore a blue woollen uniform with black braiding, a red stripe down the trouser seam and either a round "pill box" forage cap or a peaked kepi-like headdress.

The New Zealand contingent serving in South Africa from 1899 to 1902 sometimes wore the British pith helmet with standard khaki drill uniform and puttees.

The various volunteer militia units in existence until 1910 wore a variety of scarlet, dark blue or rifle-green dress uniforms, generally closely following contemporary British Army patterns.

[6] Dark blue dress uniforms were authorised for officers and members of the small Permanent Staff (regular cadre).

The "lemon squeezer" was adopted by the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) about 1911 and became general issue for all New Zealand units during the latter stages of World War I.

The reduced peace-time New Zealand forces of the period 1920–39 retained what was essentially a smartened version of the Western Front uniform of 1916–18.

Puttees however were replaced by short anklets during the 1930s and a dark-blue dress uniform was approved in 1938 to encourage voluntary recruiting for Territorial units.

The lemon squeezer with a wide range of coloured "pugaree" hat-bands to distinguish branches and units was retained in most orders of dress.

During the earlier stages of the War the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force wore the traditional "lemon squeezer" Campaign hat with the universal "NZ" badge.

The hat with its conspicuous coloured pugarees and wide rigid brim was largely replaced by more practical forage caps and berets during the Italian Campaign of 1943–44.

The New Zealand version was almost identical to British 1937 pattern, made in Serge twill but of a darker brown, while the stitching was a contrasting light colour.

During the Pacific Campaign in 1943–1944, members of the 3rd New Zealand Division were issued New Zealand-designed and manufactured light-weight khaki shirts and pants in plain drill material.

[20] Due to the harsh and freezing conditions of the Korean winter Allied forces had to source suitably protective clothing by any means available.

The New Zealand artillery battery serving in Vietnam also used a black cravat with an embroidered white Kiwi bird for both dress uniform and sometimes as field wear.

The American uniforms were more suited for carrying maps and other documents and items and were thus popular with RNZIR platoon leaders, mortar crew, and artillery men.

[30][31][32] Members of the New Zealand Special Air Service officially wore American jungle fatigues in ERDL camouflage pattern as standard issue during the Vietnam War period and through the 1970s thereafter.

[33][34] Some local acquisition of South Vietnamese Tigerstripe camouflage pattern uniforms occurred by New Zealanders also but this was very rare and never official.

[35] Australian and New Zealand troops initially wore the British Boonie hats that they used in Malaya and Borneo until 1968, after which local versions were produced.

In the mid-1990s a quantity of British windproof smocks were purchased as the indigenously developed DPM camouflage woollen "Swanndri" had never really found favour due to its weight (especially when wet), bulk and impractical cut.

A lightweight 100% cotton NZDPM windproof smock was issued, which had a rank slide on the front, covered buttons and an integral hood.

The universal mess dress also replaced the white jacket and black Barathea trousers previously worn in summer or tropical climates.

The adoption of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) by the United States in the mid 2000s has had an influence on many world militaries including New Zealand.

The dark blue (formerly red) sashes worn by sergeants are now embroidered with a traditional Māori motif or mokowaewae denoting speed and agility.

Short Māori cloaks are sometimes worn by senior officers as a mark of distinction on occasions of special ceremony, though they are not part of the regulation uniform.

[48] Velcro patches on the arms enable the wearer to display removable identifying badges, such as the New Zealand flag and the round black and white Kiwi bird emblem, and the United Nations, International Security Assistance Force or Multinational Force and Observers badges as used in overseas deployments and peacekeeping missions.

In 2012 it was announced that the Mounted Rifles Hat (MRH) was to become the standard Army ceremonial headdress with the "lemon squeezer" being retained mainly for colour parties, honour guards and other limited categories.

The cut of the MCU is in the ACU style, with mandarin collar, Velcro closures, slanted arm pockets, and removable elbow pads.

[60] The new uniforms continued to be manufactured by Workwear Group Pty Ltd. From late 2019 the Army began replacing the ECH with the Viper P4 ACH by Canadian company Galvion (formerly Revision Military.

[64] Located in Palmerston North, ADA NZ now provides all uniforms for NZDF personnel, using local suppliers for raw materials, manufacturing, and finishing.