Ian McGibbon ONZM is senior historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, specialising in the history of New Zealand's defence and foreign policy, and military history. He was the Ministry of Defence's historian from 1971 to 1979 before joining the Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. From 1983 to 1989 he was Acting Chief Historian. He was involved in the inception of both the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and the New Zealand Historical Atlas, and was Managing Editor of the latter. His has written a number of major publications of military history and was the editor of the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History (2000). Ian is edits the journal of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, New Zealand International Review. In 1997 he was appointed ONZM for services to historical research. John Crawford is the New Zealand Defence Forces historian and holds an MA in History from the University of Canterbury. He is the author of many books and papers including To Fight for the Empire, An Illustrated History of New Zealand and the South African War, 1899-1902, Kia Kaha: New Zealand in the Second World War, New Zealand's Pacific Frontline: Guadalcanal - Solomon Islands Campaign 1942-45, In the Field For Peace - New Zealand's Contribution to International Peace-support Operations: 1950-1995 and, with Glyn Harper, Operation East Timor.

Introduction - the orgins of New Zealand's South African War contribution; desperately seeking service - the Australasian commandants and the War; New Zealand women's opposition to the South African War; opposition to the war in New Zealand; the contribution of the colonial forces; the social and geographical composition of the New Zealand contingents; the best mounted troops in South Africa; different race same Queen - Maori and the war; New Zealand women and the war; an Australian perspective on the war; the Montreal Flag Riot of 1900; war memories - historical consciousness and nationalism - South African history writing and the second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902; the impact of the War on the New Zealand military forces and society.