Uniforms of the New Zealand Army The New Zealand Army uniform has changed over the years from the original Armed Constabulary to the modern day NZDPM uniform . Uniforms of the New Zealand Wars . During the New Zealand Wars of 1846 – 1886 , settler militia and Maori allies in a variety of clothing styles served alongside the British Imperial forces who wore their red and blue undress uniforms until plain dark blue field uniforms were adopted after 1860 . In the later stages of the Land Wars a locally recruited force designated as the Armed Constabulary replaced the British regular regiments . The Armed Constabulary , the forerunner of both the NZ Army and the New Zealand Police , wore a blue woolen uniform with a red stripe down the trouser seam and a kepi - like headdress . In the field this was often worn with a kilt or Māori Piupiu for convenience in crossing streams and rivers . Boer War uniforms . The New Zealand contingent serving in South Africa from 1899 – 1902 sometimes wore the British pith helmet with standard khaki drill uniform and puttees . The usual headdress however was the Australian style slouch hat , worn at this stage in its history without the turned - up brim . The New Zealand and other colonial contingents in this war affected a more casual dress style than the more strictly disciplined British regulars . Volunteers and Territorial Army . 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 . Some units recruited in coastal areas favored Royal Navy style dress . Since 1902 a khaki serge service uniform had also been general issue . The regional regiments of the new Territorial Army which replaced the militia wore the universal " 1912 Uniform " of khaki of a greenish / brown shade , worn with a slouch hat . Officers frequently wore the peaked cap of the British Army . Units were distinguished by regimental badges attached to the turned up brim of the hat and branches by colored piping on tunic shoulder straps and trouser seams . Dark blue dress uniforms were authorised for officers and members of the small Permanent Staff ( regular cadre ) . World War I uniforms . During the Gallipoli campaign New Zealand troops wore a variety of hot - weather khaki drill uniforms with either slouch hats or the peaked cap of the British Army . Supply difficulties and the harsh nature of terrain and climate during this campaign meant that little emphasis was placed on smartness or uniformity of dress . When in France the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force wore khaki uniforms of British style together with the distinctive " lemon squeezer " campaign hat , which prior to 1914 had been worn by only one regiment . The uniforms worn on the Western Front included a mounted service pattern greatcoat , the Brodie helmet when in combat , and the universal combat boots and puttees wrapped around the legs Inter - war period . 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 . Only bands resumed the scarlet parade uniforms of the pre - 1910 Volunteer era . The lemon squeezer with a wide range of coloured " pugaree " hat - bands to distinguish branches and units was retained in most orders of dress . Until mechanization , the Mounted Rifles regiments wore their own version of the slouch hat , with a green pugaree . World War II uniforms . During the earlier stages of the War the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force wore the traditional lemon squeezer hat with the universal NZ Badge . A high collared khaki service uniform , drawn from peace - time issue , was soon replaced by British style battle dress or in North Africa , by light khaki drill short - sleeved shirts and shorts . In combat the Brodie helmet was also worn . The lemon squeezer hat with its conspicuous coloured pugarees and wide rigid brim was largely replaced by more practical forage cap s and berets during the Italian Campaign of 1943 - 44 . Malayan conflict , Vietnam uniforms . British - pattern Battle Dress was worn until the 1970s , with " Jungle Greens " being used as field wear with Beret or Khaki Cap and Boonie hat Current uniforms . New Zealand Army uniforms have historically followed the British pattern of the British Army Uniform with the high crowned " lemon squeezer " hat as the most visible national distinction . In 2012 it was announced that the MRH ( Mounted Rifles Hat ) was to become the standard Army ceremonial headdress with the lemon squeezer being retained only for colour parties and other limited categories . General trends over the past two decades have included the appearance of distinctive New Zealand features in details such as ceremonial headdresses and sergeants ' sashes ( now dark blue instead of British Army red ) , combined with the reduction of corps and regimental distinctions in favor of standardised army - wide patterns . As examples of the latter , a universal rifle - green beret is now worn and a standard scarlet and blue mess uniform for officers and senior NCOs has replaced the varied colours and facings formerly in use . 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 . British DPM was adopted in 1980 . Modern field wear is New Zealand disruptive pattern material camouflage , which closely resembles British DPM field uniforms . On overseas service , a New Zealand flag badge and a white Kiwi on a circular black field with the words " New Zealand " are worn . The DPM uniform , with the addition of a beret or sometimes the Mounted Rifles Hat , is the usual working uniform and according the one most commonly worn . On 27 July 2012 , the New Zealand Army formally announced the new Multi Terrain Camouflage Uniform will replace the NZDPM and NZDDPM patterns . It is intended that the MCU will be issued to all branches of the NZDF , with preliminary issue starting around mid - 2013 .