History
The New Zealand Armed Forces Award was established in 1985 as the long service decoration for the Regular Force officers of the New Zealand Defence Force, the officers' counterpart to the long service and good conduct medals of the three services. It was originally awarded for fifteen years of unblemished service; from 2020 the qualifying period was reduced to fourteen years, and that for a clasp from fifteen years to seven.
Its reverse brings together the emblems of the whole Defence Force, and its ribbon the colours of the three services, marking it as an award of the armed forces as a whole rather than any single service. As a New Zealand long service award it is worn in the Australian Order of Wearing among the foreign awards.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is silver and circular. The obverse bears the crowned effigy of the Sovereign, with the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF. The reverse shows two crossed swords pointed upward with a spread-winged eagle superimposed at the centre, surmounted by a Naval Crown, and behind the swords two fern fronds with their stems crossed at the base; around it runs the inscription NEW ZEALAND above and ARMED FORCES AWARD below. The crossed swords, eagle and naval crown stand for the Army, Air Force and Navy.
The ribbon
Navy, army and air force colours with a black centre.
The ribbon carries dark blue, crimson and light blue for the Navy, Army and Air Force, with a black central stripe for New Zealand.
Clasps
A clasp marks a further qualifying period of service.
Eligibility
The award is made for long and unblemished service by Regular Force officers of the New Zealand Defence Force.
- Fourteen years of service qualifies, reduced in 2020 from the original fifteen; a clasp is earned for a further seven years, reduced from fifteen;
- Subsequent awards are shown by a clasp on the ribbon, or a rosette when the ribbon is worn alone;
- As a New Zealand long service award it is worn in the Australian Order of Wearing among the foreign awards.
Order of wear
In the Australian Order of Wearing this New Zealand long service award is worn among the foreign awards, after Australian honours and awards. In the New Zealand system it is worn with the long service and good conduct awards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Zealand Armed Forces Award?
The long service decoration for Regular Force officers of the New Zealand Defence Force, established in 1985 as the officers' counterpart to the long service and good conduct medals of the three services.
What is the qualifying service?
Fourteen years of unblemished service, reduced in 2020 from the original fifteen; a clasp is earned for a further seven years.
How is it different from the long service and good conduct medals?
It is the officers' award, common to the whole Defence Force, while the long service and good conduct medals are for the other ranks of each individual service.
What does the reverse show?
Two crossed swords with a spread-winged eagle and a naval crown, behind them two crossed fern fronds, with the inscription NEW ZEALAND and ARMED FORCES AWARD; the emblems stand for the three services.
What do the ribbon colours mean?
Dark blue, crimson and light blue for the Navy, Army and Air Force, with a black central stripe for New Zealand.
How is it worn in Australia?
As a New Zealand long service award, among the foreign awards in the Australian Order of Wearing.