In 1861, the 70th Regiment was posted to New Zealand. Arriving in the country in May 1861, Chute and his regiment was involved in the construction of the Great South Road, which extended from Drury to the Waikato River.
The deployment of the 70th Regiment to New Zealand in 1861 set the stage for Chute's involvement in the construction of the Great South Road, a significant infrastructure project that connected key locations in the region, including Drury and the Waikato River.