Editing New Zealand Defence Force (section)

====Defence review, March 1865====
At the request of the governor in January 1865 a formal statement on the defence of the colony was presented on 20 March 1865. This proposed an armed constabulary force supported by friendly natives, volunteer units, and militia as the case may require be established to take the place of the Imperial troops.<ref>On the defences of the Colony, ''Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle'', Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 29 April 1865, Page 3</ref> The proposed force was to consist of 1,350 Europeans and 150 Maori – 1,500 in total. They were to be divided into 30 companies of 50 men each based as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! header 1|Province
! header 2|Location
! header 3|Number
|-
| row 1, cell 1|Auckland
| row 1, cell 2|Queens Redoubt south, between the Waikato and Waipa Rivers
| row 1, cell 3|6
|-
| row 2, cell 1|
| row 2, cell 2|From the Bluff to Pukorokoro
| row 2, cell 3|3
|-
| row 3, cell 1|
| row 3, cell 2|In reserve at Papakura or vicinity
| row 3, cell 3|3
|-
| row 4, cell 1|
| row 4, cell 2|Tauranga
| row 4, cell 3|1
|-
| row 5, cell 1|Taranaki and Wellington
| row 5, cell 2|Taranaki and Wanganui Districts
| row 5, cell 3|12
|-
| row 6, cell 1|
| row 6, cell 2|Wellington
| row 6, cell 3|1
|-
| row 7, cell 1|Hawke's Bay
| row 7, cell 2|Napier
| row 7, cell 3|4
|}
The total Defence budget, which included purchasing a steamer for use on the Waikato, Patea, and Wanganui rivers, was 187,000 pounds per annum. The budget's focus was solely on internal conflict. The issue of external conflict did not begin to resurface until the following year, with thought being given again to coastal defences.<ref>Coastal defences, 'Colonist', Volume IX, Issue 916, 13 July 1866, Page 5</ref>

The Colonial Defence Force was disbanded in October 1867 by the Armed Constabulary Act 1867. Its members transferred to the Armed Constabulary.