NZ Defence Service Medal – Update

The Royal Warrant and design for the New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM) has been formally approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

However, applications cannot open until the regulations have been signed by the Governor-General. This approval is expected shortly.

When applications open the first people able to apply for the NZDSM will be ex-Service personnel aged over 70. Further applications will be called for as processing progresses.

An initial NZDSM presentation will be made to a small group of ex-Service personnel at a ceremony in Parliament on 14 April. The recipients have been contacted by the NZ Defence Force and have indicated their availability. These personnel are from the Wellington Region.

Regional medal presentations will be arranged by local RSA branches from late May 2011. Local RSA branches will have staff available to assist ex-Service personnel with their applications.

The medal will be engraved with your name and rank at the time that you became eligible for the medal. i.e. if you were a TEL after 3 years service then this is the rank which will be engraved on the medal.

How this medal is worn will be advised after the Governor-General has approved the position of the Order of Wear.

If you served in both the Naval Reserve and Regular Force then you will have two bars on your medal both ‘Regular’ and ‘Territorial’.

Double click on any of the images to enlarge