In 1865, Gudgeon enlisted in the Wanganui Bushrangers and was promoted to second-in-command of the Wanganui Native Contingent shortly afterwards. In September 1865 he was promoted for his personal courage and skills in interdiplomacy, receiving a commission as lieutenant in the 3rd Waikato Militia and serving in Opotiki and southern Taranaki. Gudgeon returned to his farm after accidentally injuring himself.

In 1868, Gudgeon served as captain in the Native Contingent. He was then promoted to sub-inspector in the NZ Armed Constabulary (7th Div. & 3rd Div.), during which he fought against Te Kooti and was given command of Runanga redoubt between Taupo and Napier (Moturoa 7/11/1868; Ngatapa 1/1869). In 1874 he was put in charge of the Poverty Bay district and later became resident magistrate for the Wairoa and Waiapu districts. In 1880 Gudgeon joined the forces in Taranaki where he played a leading role in the arrest of Te Whiti and Tohu Kakahi at Parihaka. He was then posted to Manaia, where he supervised the building of a redoubt and road-making.

In 1885 Gudgeon was promoted to major and supervised the construction of gun emplacements at Wellington's Point Halswell during the Russian war scare. Soon afterwards he became acting under-secretary of defence.

Walter Gudgeon was born in London, England, in 1841. He arrived in New Zealand with his family in 1850 and worked on the family farm in New Plymouth until 1865. Following his involvement in the NZ Wars, Gudgeon became the commissioner in charge of the New Zealand Police Force from 1887 to 1890. During the 1890s, Gudgeon was a judge of the Native Land Court and the Validation Court and a trust commissioner under the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act. He also co-founded the Polynesian Society and wrote several books about New Zealand during this period. In 1898, he was appointed British Resident in the Cook Islands, later also becoming chief justice of the High Court and chief judge of the Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court. He received a CMG in 1901 for his role in persuading the Cook Islands to agree to federation with New Zealand. Gudgeon retired in 1909. He died in Devonport, Auckland, in 1920.

Notes by Lucy Mackintosh 28/10/08

References: R Stowers entry in The New Zealand Medal to Colonials

New Zealand Dictionary of Biography