Awards News
NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL SERVICE MEDAL
The New Zealand Operational Service Medal is to awarded for operational service since 3 September 1945. The ribbon of the medal will continue the black and white theme of the New Zealand War Service Medal 39-45. The NZOSM will take precedence directly after the New Zealand War Service Medal 39-45, but before any other campaign medal issued thereafter. The following are the areas of Operational Service that qualify for the award
- NZ Service Medal 1946-49 (J Force)
- The Korean War
- Malayan Emergency 1949-60
- Malay Penisular
- Brunei
- Borneo
- Vietnam War
- Rhodesia 1980
- The Gulf War
- East Timor
- Afghanistan
- Solomon Islands
Recipients of the following medals will also qualify :
- NZ General Service Medal (Warlike)
- NZ General Service Medal (Non Warlike)
- United Nations Medals.
- NATO Medals
NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL
This New Zealand Special Service Medal is to recognise service to New Zealand in very difficult, adverse, extreme, or hazardous circumstances.
It is intended that the first awards will be to service and civilian personnel who formed part of an official New Zealand presence at an atmospheric nuclear test including British tests in the Pacific and Australia between 1956 and 1958, American tests 1957-58, and French testing at Mururoa in 1973. The medal will also be available to family of deceased veterans.
INTERFET MEDAL
About 900 New Zealand military personnel are now entitled to the award of the INTERFET Medal for service in East Timor of 30 days or more between 16 September 1999 and 10 April 2000
MULTINATIONAL FORCE & OBSERVERS MEDAL
On 23 April 2002 the NZ Government announced that New Zealand personnel are now able to accept and wear the MFO Medal without restriction.
The MFO Meal is awarded to members of the New Zealand Defence Force who serve with the MFO peacekeeping force in the Sinai. The MFO monitors compliance with the peace treaty signed between Isreal and Egypt in March 1979, which provided for Isreal to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula.
NZ Defence Force Personnel have been involved with the MFO since 1982, and since that time over 700 New Zealanders have served there
NZ GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS
This NZ General Service Medal will be awarded for military service since early 2000 in the Solomon Islands. What is unclear at this stage is what exactly the criteria for the award will be, but it is expected to be along the lines of
- 1 days service in the Solomon Islands, and surrounding waters thereof
- 1 operational sortie as aircrew
- 30 days accumulated service for official visitors
NZ GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR PRIMARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN
This Medal is awarded for service within the political bounds of Afghanistan since 18 December 2001.
- 1 days or more service in Afghanistan
- 1 operational sortie for aircrew
- 30 days as a visitor
NZ GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR SECONDARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN
This Medal is awarded for service outside the political bounds of Afghanistan since 18 December 2001.but indirect support of operations inside Afghanistan. Service within the political bounds of Afghanistan does not count
- 1 days or more service in Afghanistan
- 1 operational sortie for aircrew
- 30 days as a visitor
NZ GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ
This medal was instituted in 2004 to recognise New Zealand personnel (both military and non military) who have served in Iraq since 27 May 2003. The initial New Zealand Defence Force contribution consisted of two personnel who served with the United Nations Mine Action Service's Mine Action Coordination Team based in Basrah. Military engineers and support personnel were subsequently deployed to Iraq under United Nations Resolution 1483, to work on humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.
The qualifying period for the medal starts from 27 May 2003 for mine clearance operations, and 17 September 2003 for service with the British led Multi-National Division in (Southeast) Iraq undertaking humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.
More than 120 New Zealand Defence Force personnel who have served in Iraq since 27 May 2003 have qualified for this medal. Further information on service by New Zealand personnel in Iraq can be found in the media statements listed below, on the Current Missions page of the NZDF website (see section 16), and on the Medals Listed by Campaign table.
Service by New Zealand personnel in Iraq prior to 27 May 2003 with the United Nations missions UNSCOM or UNMOVIC is recognised by the New Zealand General Service Medal 1994 (Clasp Iraq) and the United Nations Special Service Medal.
PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA
New Zealanders eligible for Malaysian military medal
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that the Queen has given her approval for eligible New Zealanders who served in Malaya / Malaysia to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal.
Helen Clark said the Malaysian government wishes to award the PJM medal to those who served in Malaya / Malaysia for at least 90 days, between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966. This also includes service in Singapore up to 9 August 1965.
"New Zealand and Malaysia enjoy a long-standing and valuable defence relationship. The Malaysian government's offer of the PJM medal is an acknowledgement of the contribution made by New Zealanders to the security of Malaysia, and the region," Helen Clark said.
Defence Minister Mark Burton said while the PJM medal is a foreign award, it would be administered by the New Zealand Defence Force. The medal recognises certain service in Malaya, Borneo, and Singapore between 1957 and 1966.
"The NZDF will act as the agent for the Malaysian government in the administration of the PJM award. However, in all possible circumstances, senior representatives from the Malaysian government will present medals in person to recipients, including the next of kin in the case of posthumous awards," Mark Burton said.
Application forms should be sent to: Medals Office, Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
Once the applications have been verified, they will be forwarded to the High Commission of Malaysia, in Wellington, which will undertake the approval and presentation of the PJM medal to eligible veterans.
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ELIGIBILITY
Two categories of eligibility will be assessed by Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force for the award of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal.
Category One:
a. Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit or formation, and who served in the prescribed operational area of Malaysia and Singapore, in direct support of operations in Malaysia, for 90 days or more, in the aggregate, as follows:
(1) Malaysia during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive; and / or
(2) Singapore during the period 31 August 1957 to 9 August 1965 inclusive.
Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a member was posted for operations to Malaya or Malaysia on or before 12 August 1966.
The prescribed operational area of Malaysia and Singapore is the landmass of East Malaysia (that is: the States of Sabah and Sarawak on the Island of Borneo), the Malay Peninsula, and the Island of Singapore. The prescribed operational area also includes the sea area of Malaysia.
b. Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit or formation outside of the prescribed operational area detailed in paragraph a. above, but who served in a secondary role in indirect support of operations in Malaysia for 180 days or more, in the aggregate, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive.
The secondary role is in respect of service with RNZN ships patrolling outside of the prescribed operational area whilst allocated to the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve.
Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a member was serving on a RNZN ship allocated to the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve on or before 12 August 1966.
c. Those New Zealand citizens who served in a civilian law enforcement capacity (police, home guard or security services) in the prescribed operational area of Malaysia only, in direct support of operations in Malaysia, for 90 days or more, in the aggregate, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive.
Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a person was posted for operations to Malaya or Malaysia on or before 12 August 1966.
Notes:
1. Sorties from bases outside of the operational area as prescribed at paragraph a. above do not count as qualifying service towards the award of the PJM medal. Only service by those on the posted strength of bases located in Malaysia and Singapore, and in cases where the sorties have been mounted from those bases, will be counted as qualifying service towards the award of the PJM medal. Only the first sortie from inside the prescribed operational area on any one day will be counted as qualifying service.
2. Service may be aggregated in relation to paragraphs a. and b. above. This is calculated on the basis that:
a. Service of one day in the operational area counts as one day towards qualification for the medal.
b. Service of two days in the secondary role is calculated as one day.
c. All service counts towards an aggregate of 90 days.
For example, a person who has 10 days' service in the operational area, and 160 days' service in the secondary role, will qualify for the medal on the basis of 10 + (160 ÷ 2) = 90.
Category Two:
Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces, or those New Zealand citizens, who had their period of service in the operational area terminated by death, or by evacuation due to illness or injury or other disability due to that service, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive, and before the completion of the period of qualifying service prescribed in Category One.
General:
There will only be one award of the medal to a person unless otherwise advised. Should the medal be lost or destroyed, it will not be replaced at public expense.
Individual applications made directly to the Government of Malaysia for an award of the medal will be referred to Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, for the assessment and verification of the individual's service.
The start date for the medal is 31 August 1957, because this is the date that Malaya / Malaysia became an independent nation.
ORDER OF WEAR
The PJM shall be worn immediately after the Korean issued War Service Medal and ahead of the INTERFET Medal if either is already held. If not it shall be worn as a foreign award
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RNZN deployments eligible for the PJM medal
The following 16 RNZN deployments are eligible for the PJM medal:
HMNZS Royalist 31 August 1957 to 18 June 1958
HMNZS Rotoiti 22 May 1958 to 11 March 1959
HMNZS Pukaki 6 June 1959 to 15 March 1960
HMNZS Rotoiti 17 April 1960 to 15 February 1961
HMNZS Royalist 22 February 1961 to 12 July 1961
HMNZS Pukaki 9 July 1961 to 23 May 1962
HMNZS Taranaki 18 May 1962 to 12 March 1963
HMNZS Otago 5 June 1963 to 25 November 1963
HMNZS Taranaki 15 December 1963 to 20 August 1964
HMNZS Otago 15 October 1964 to 10 May 1965
HMNZS Royalist 20 May 1965 to 29 October 1965
HMNZS Santon 10 April 1965 to 25 November 1965
HMNZS Hickleton 12 April 1965 to 27 November 1965
HMNZS Taranaki 3 November 1965 to 23 April 1966
HMNZS Santon 26 November 1965 to 20 May 1966
HMNZS Hickleton 28 November 1965 to 30 July 1966
Personnel who served on two or more of the following five RNZN deployments may be eligible for the PJM medal, if their total number of days of qualifying service (as indicated in barracks) is 90 days or more:
HMNZS Royalist 25 March 1959 to 10 June 1959 (53.5 days' qualifying service)
HMNZS Otago 23 February 1962 to 26 March 1962 (27 days' qualifying service)
HMNZS Royalist 14 March 1963 to 26 June 1963 (75.5 days' qualifying service)
HMNZS Royalist 19 May 1964 to 17 July 1964 (33 days' qualifying service)
HMNZS Otago 29 April 1966 to 2 September 1966 (67.5 days' qualifying service)
CLAIMING OF MEDALS AND AWARDS
Any person wishing to claim any of the above medals should in the first instance write a letter of application specifying which medal they are applying for, their service description and as much detail about the service for which the medal is being claimed.
ADDRESS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:
Staff Officer Medals
HQ NZ Defence Force
Private bag 905
Upper Hutt
Wellington
New Zealand
MEDAL MOUNTING
If any member wishes to have their medals from any era remounted then
