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Kōrero: Conscription, conscientious objection and pacifism

Military Service Act 1916

This government poster explains the terms of the Military Service Act 1916, which required all able-bodied Pākehā men to register for military service. This form of conscription was introduced after the number of New Zealand volunteers for service in the First World War fell below the target level. Those who registered under this act were selected for service by a ballot.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: Eph-D-WAR-WI-1916-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Mark Derby, Conscription, conscientious objection and pacifism – Conscription, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/35685/military-service-act-1916 (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Mark Derby, i tāngia i te 18 May 2012.