History
The New Zealand Defence Service Medal was instituted in 2011 to recognise attested military service of three years or more since 3 September 1945, in the Regular Force, the Territorial Forces of the Navy, Army and Air Force, Compulsory Military Training, or National Service. It was created to acknowledge the particular demands of military service: the commitment to the Crown, the liability for operational service, and the constraints on employment and personal freedom that service entails.
It became the largest medal issue New Zealand had undertaken since the Second World War medals of the 1950s, with well over one hundred thousand issued. The medal is always awarded with at least one clasp describing the kind of service, and further clasps may be earned for further kinds of service. In the New Zealand Order of Wear it is worn after the long service awards and before foreign awards.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The medal is bronze with an antique finish and circular. The obverse bears the New Zealand Coat of Arms, the symbol of the Crown and the executive government, marking the medal as recognition of service to New Zealand. The reverse shows a large New Zealand fern frond, with the emblems of the Navy, Army and Air Force, the naval crown, crossed swords and eagle, and the inscription THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE SERVICE MEDAL. It was designed by the New Zealand Herald of Arms, and is engraved on the rim with the recipient's details.
The ribbon
Navy blue, army red and air force blue with green stripes.
The ribbon carries dark blue, red and light blue for the Navy, Army and Air Force, separated by thin light green stripes for the volunteer and territorial elements of the forces. When the ribbon is worn alone, a silver rosette marks each clasp beyond the first.
Clasps
The medal is always awarded with at least one clasp naming the kind of service.
REGULAR
TERRITORIAL
C.M.T.
Compulsory Military Training.
Eligibility
The medal is awarded for attested military service of three years or more since 3 September 1945.
- Service in the Regular Force, the Territorial Forces of the Navy, Army or Air Force, Compulsory Military Training, or National Service qualifies, according to the conditions of each clasp;
- It is always awarded with at least one clasp, and further clasps may be earned; a silver rosette on the ribbon marks each clasp beyond the first when the ribbon is worn alone;
- In the New Zealand Order of Wear it is worn after the long service awards and before foreign awards.
Order of wear
In the New Zealand Order of Wear the New Zealand Defence Service Medal is worn after the long service awards and before foreign awards. On an Australian rack these New Zealand awards are mounted according to the wearer's own national honours system.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Zealand Defence Service Medal awarded for?
Attested military service of three years or more in the New Zealand forces since 3 September 1945, in the Regular Force, Territorial Forces, Compulsory Military Training or National Service.
What do the clasps mean?
Four clasps name the kind of service: Regular, Territorial, C.M.T. for Compulsory Military Training, and National Service; the medal is always awarded with at least one.
What do the ribbon colours mean?
Dark blue, red and light blue for the Navy, Army and Air Force, separated by thin light green stripes for the volunteer and territorial elements of the forces.
What is on the medal?
The obverse bears the New Zealand Coat of Arms; the reverse shows a New Zealand fern frond with the emblems of the three services and the medal's title.
How many have been issued?
Well over one hundred thousand, making it the largest medal issue New Zealand has undertaken since the Second World War medals of the 1950s.
How is it worn?
In the New Zealand Order of Wear it is worn after the long service awards and before foreign awards.