The 1st Battalion New Zealand Regiment was formed on 9 January 1947 as part of the newly created New Zealand Infantry Corps and was stationed in Malaya from 1 February 1958.
The 1st Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Battalion in November 1959 until its (1st Battalion) return in November 1961.
The New Zealand Regiment was re-organised into the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) on 1 April 1964.