I was attached to 1NZ (later 1RNZIR, I think) before 543 Tp was established. It was after I'd been attached to 2RAR, but while I lived with 2RAR full time, I only joined the Kiwis for exercises as "patrol radio support" - otherwise I was back in the 208 lines and working in the compound (after the usual post-exercise p*ss up and sing song in the Kiwi lines, of course!). Always got on really well with the maoris - they often took turns to carry me and my backpack radio to "give my legs a rest"!