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White Man’S War: Māori Stance Against Conscription In The Great War, Kaia Lacey

Dean's Leadership Council Library Research Prize

New Zealand imposed conscription during WWI due to the fact the country was a part of the British Empire and was therefore required to contribute troops to the war effort on their behalf. Conscription, or compulsory military service, was used to quickly and effectively mobilize large numbers of soldiers to fight in the war. New Zealand introduced conscription through the Military Service Act of 1916, which required all able-bodied men between the ages of twenty and forty-five to register for military service. It was imposed initially only on Pākehā, or New Zealanders of European descent, leaving the Māori out of …