 In 1836 the regiment was given the duty of escorting convicts to Australia; small detachments of the 80th undertook the journey over several months.The regiment spent seven years in New South Wales with detachments on Norfolk Island and in New Zealand.Major Thomas Bunbury of the 80th Foot was made the representative of the Governor of New Zealand to arrange the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at various locations in the South Island during May and June 1840, establishing British sovereignty there.