The 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment in Auckland: Military, Social, and Cultural Influences

Introduction

Following centuries of Māori occupation, Tāmaki Makaurau was selected as the site for the new capital of the colony and named Auckland. From 1841, Auckland was not only the seat of the colonial government but the place from which military campaigns of the New Zealand Wars (Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa) were directed. Fourteen imperial regiments served in these wars from 1840 to 1870. All entered the colony through Auckland, and many returned to the city between regional deployments.

The full title of the 58th regiment is the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot. They were also known as the Black Cuffs. This imperial regiment was made up of soldiers from Britain and had a long history of participating in battles for the British Empire. The 58th regiment escorted prisoners from Britain to New South Wales, Australia and undertook garrison duties there, before being sent to Auckland, New Zealand.

Learning Aims

Students will learn:

About the foundational role of the 58th regiment in the shaping and colonisation of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
About the relationships and connections between the 58th regiment, the British Empire, and civilian inhabitants of Auckland and the maintenance of those connections across regions and borders
About the distribution of authority in colonial Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and the use and potential misuse of power
The way in which the 58th regiment in Auckland has been remembered over time