The Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps was formed in 1846, following the conclusion of the Northern War phase of the New Zealand Wars against Hone Heke. The Governor, George Grey, had requested military forces for the defence of the early settlers in New Zealand, and instead of supplying regular military forces the British parliament approved the creation of the Corps.[1] Auckland, which had a population of 2,800 at the time, virtually doubled in size when the fencibles and their families disembarked.[2]