UPDATE ON THE LONG SERVICE AWARDS REVIEW

Here is the latest update on the review of the Long Service Awards Review.  This review commenced in 2004 and is still ongoing.  On review of the first paragraph of this release it would appear that the review still has some way to go before the Royal Warrants and accompanying regulations are in place.  If it is going to take 12 – 18 months from announcement for current serving personnel to receive their issue than not sure how ex serving personnel will be next in line in the first half of 2019.  A good subject for a time and motion study me thinks.

5 June 2018

Changes to the eligibility rules for the existing ten New Zealand military long service awards are expected to be announced by the end of 2018, once the governing Royal Warrants and accompanying regulations are in place.

As advised on 25 August 2015, the existing long service awards will remain, but the entitlement criteria will allow all eligible New Zealand military service to be counted. For example, service will be able to be accumulated rather than continuous (as is currently required for some awards). This will deliver a fairer system while maintaining the standing of the long service awards.

The appropriate long service award issued will reflect the majority of each recipient’s service. Persons who already have a long service award will continue to wear the award they have. There will be no swapping of awards.

Current serving military personnel will not need to apply for their long service entitlement to be assessed under the new rules. They will be automatically assessed via the data in their SAP HCM records. Please note that given the number of eligible personnel it may take around 12 to 18 months after the announcement to confirm and issue the medal entitlement for every current serving military Service person.

Applications from eligible ex-Service persons will be called for in the first half of 2019, once a project team of additional staff has been hired and trained.