page_title: Uniforms of the New Zealand Army
section_title: 1970s - 1990s
hierarchical_section_title: Uniforms of the New Zealand Army / 1970s - 1990s
caption_attribution_description: As part of Exercise Tebaga Gap, Cadets from the Officer Cadet School conduct live firing assaults in Waiouru.
context_page_description: The New Zealand Army uniform has changed over the years from that of the original Armed Constabulary of the 1800s to the modern Army Combat Uniform style in use by the majority of world armies today. While British Army influence has always been strong, distinctive New Zealand features have gradually developed. From 2013 the New Zealand Army uniform underwent a complete redesign with a new and distinctive camouflage pattern unique to the NZDF.
context_section_description: While New Zealand Army dress has historically shared similarities with British and Australian uniforms, the high crowned "lemon squeezer" campaign hat remains the most identifiable New Zealand distinction. Having been in abeyance since the 1950s, the "lemon squeezer" was reintroduced for ceremonial wear in 1977.
  British Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) was adopted in 1980 as the camouflage pattern for clothing. The new camouflage uniforms were in the British 1968 Pattern, fully replacing the olive-green Australian JGs. The original DPM colours were further modified several times to better suit New Zealand conditions. This evolved pattern is now officially referred to as New Zealand disruptive pattern material (NZDPM.) 
   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.
  In 1997 a new uniform was issued which resembled the cut of the British "Combat Soldier 95" jungle DPM shirt and trousers. The shirt and trousers feature double knees, elbows and seat. Rank slides were worn on the shoulders. NZDPM remained the camouflage pattern. A lightweight 100% cotton NZDPM windproof smock was issued, which had a rank slide on the front, covered buttons and an integral hood. 
  A wide brimmed khaki slouch hat with green puggaree, of a pattern formerly worn by the New Zealand Mounted Rifle regiments, replaced the khaki "No 2" British Army peaked cap as Service dress uniform headdress for all branches in 1998.
  The M1 steel helmet was the standard Combat helmet from 1960–2000. With the introduction of DPM camouflage pattern for clothing in 1980, helmet covers in NZDPM pattern soon replaced the helmet covers previously used which were earlier Vietnam War-era reversible USMC Standard ("Vine Leaf") and Mitchell ("brown clouds") and latter U.S ERDL pattern covers.
  In the 1990s a universal pattern mess uniform comprising a scarlet mess jacket with blue-black trousers replaced the various regimental and corps mess dress uniforms previously worn, and is worn by officers and senior NCOs for formal evening occasions. The universal mess dress also replaced the white jacket and black Barathea trousers previously worn in summer or tropical cClimates. The mess uniform is based on the British "infantry pattern" mess uniform. 
  The dark blue "No 1" dress uniform formerly worn by officers before the general adoption of mess uniforms, was last worn in the early 1990s, although it was nominally retained for wear by the chief of army on appropriate state occasions. Scarlet and blue full dress uniforms of slightly differing patterns are worn by both the New Zealand Army Band and the Officer Cadet School, together with "lemon squeezer" hats respectively in khaki or dark blue. Highland orders of dress (glengarry, kilt, and sporrans) are authorised for wear by the New Zealand Scottish Squadron of the RNZAC, at the discretion of the squadron commander. They are also authorised for the pipes and drums of the 5th (Wellington, West Coast and Taranaki) Battalion Group.
caption: Soldiers wearing NZDPM uniforms, first introduced in 1980
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