Unknown belt buckle tang, Australian?

[Tinto]

Hi All,
Here is part of an old belt buckle found at an old pa site in the Waikato district, New Zealand. Looks like an emu, and many Australians enlisted in the Colonial Forces during the New Zealand Land Wars.
Any ideas who wore it?
Tinto

[Donny B.]

Very interesting but no ideas from me and nothing in my meagre library shows anything like it. It certainly looks more like an emu that a representation of a N.Z. moa.

I guess I always thought that Australians who went to New Zealand went as individuals and joined up with local units. It would be nice to hear the thoughts of others on this topic.

Donny B.