The focus of this thesis is to identify all the men of Ngai Tamarawaho who served with 28 (Māori) Battalion. Uncovering some of their stories and examining how and in what way the political and social climate of the time influenced their decision to go to war are key research objectives. The impact of the raupatu in Tauranga Moana in 1864 was devastating for the hapu and had long term social and economic consequences. This thesis argues that there was a direct correlation between the social and political injustices suffered by Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngata's rationale for establishing the (Māori) 28 Battalion.