Why did New Zealand send forces to the Korean War and the Vietnam War?

Following World War II, New Zealand’s foreign policy was significantly shaped by a sense of geographic insecurity and a growing dependence on Western powers, particularly the United States, for national defense.12

New Zealand’s military involvement in the Korean War and the Vietnam War was primarily driven by a fear of the expansion of communist power in Asia. This commitment to regional security was further solidified by New Zealand's membership in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954, which aimed to contain communism in the region.12

Additionally, these deployments reflected New Zealand's broader postwar alignment with Western allies, including the United States and Australia, as formalized through the ANZUS pact in 1951. While New Zealand began to assert a more independent voice in international affairs during this era, its strategic decisions remained closely tied to its security partnerships and the collective effort to maintain stability in Southeast Asia.132