New Zealanders who resisted the First World War

In May 1919 the government published a Military Defaulters List’ containing the names of men it considered had failed to perform their civic duties under the conscription system during the First World War. This included men who had directly refused military service (conscientious objectors), those who deserted from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and those who failed to present themselves for military service when called upon to do so. Conscientious objectors who had refused military service on religious grounds were exempt from inclusion in the list.

Military defaulters were deprived of these civil rights for 10 years from 10 December 1918:

• the right to work for the Crown or any other local or public authority;
• the right to be elected or appointed to serve as a Member of Parliament or on any other local or public authority;
• the right to be enrolled to vote in elections for Members of Parliament or any other local or public authority.

Any defaulter who was overseas on 10 December 1918 was banned from returning for 10 years. Defaulters were banned from changing their names without permission.

The original list published in May 1919 included 2373 names, of which 99 were subsequently removed on appeal. Forty-six names were subsequently added, making the final total 2320.

The men on the defaulters’ list had their civil rights restored in September 1927, more than a year earlier than originally intended. You can download this table as a spreadsheet containing more detailed information here.